Super League play-offs – Sinfield the hero for the Rhinos
Whether or not you are in agreement with the structure of the Super League play-off system, it does guarantee one thing - fantastic drama.
None more so than at the DW Stadium on Sunday evening as a late Kevin Sinfield drop-goal gave current champions Leeds Rhinos a somewhat surprising 26-27 victory over league shield winners Wigan Warriors. Super League player of the season Pat Richards had a chance to tilt the game back in the Warriors favour with a last minute penalty, but his kick sailed agonisingly wide to send Leeds through to the semi-finals.
The league leaders made a flying start to the much anticipated clash, racing to a 14-0 lead with two tries in the first seven minutes from Sam Tomkins. But an injury to key stand-off Paul Deacon meant a reshuffle in the Warriors backline, which gave Leeds the chance to assert some momentum. Substitute Greg Eastwood sparked the Rhinos fight back on 22 minutes, then Ryan Hall crossed over in the corner to draw the scores level.
The second half matched the intensity of the first with Danny Maguire putting the Rhinos ahead for the first time in the match after Brent Webb had skipped his way past three Warriors tacklers. But it was all square again five minutes later when Harrison Hansen made the running for Liam Farrell to power his way over for Wigan's third try.
But the game entered legendary status as Leeds stole the initiative back once again, left winger Scott Donald scoring in the corner and Sinfield's touchline conversion making it 26-20. Then, incredibly, with nine minutes remaining Wigan rallied again and Richards grabbed his 30th try of the season, which was converted, to draw the sides level.
Then came Sinfield’s moment, which he duly took – expertly slotting over the extra point from in the front of the posts which meant Wigan go onto face Hull KR next Sunday in an elimination play-off, while Leeds progress to the semi-finals.
The Warriors' opponents next weekend beat their neighbours, Hull FC, 21-4 on Saturday to progress to the next stage. But the match was marred by yet more controversy as Rovers' man of the match, Scott Murrell, claimed that he had been bitten in a tackle mid-way through the first half. The evidence has been included in referee Phil Bentham’s report and will be viewed by the League officials in the week. An unidentified Hull player could be in danger of starting next season with a lengthy suspension if found guilty.
Brian Noble’s future as Crusaders coach still hangs in the balance, as he refused to comment on speculation regarding his future in the wake of his side’s 18-12 defeat against Huddersfield Giants. His side looked to be progressing through to the next round as they held a comfortable 12-8 lead with 14 minutes remaining but a yellow card to Jordan James gave the Giants an extra man advantage which they made the most of, scoring two late tries.
“Towards the end, a couple of things went against us," Noble told the club’s official website.
"I thought we were the better team and, but for a couple of lapses of concentration, we could have been in the mix for next week."
The Giants reward for the win is a trip to the Halliwell Jones Stadium to face Warrington Wolves, who were defeated 28-12 by St Helens on Friday night.
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