must have upset the rugby gods

I actually agree with that. Thought Ablett just edged MOM, but Peacock is unbelievable. What pleased me more though was how Singleton seemed to compliment Peacock last night and looked like a young Peacock, his work rate massive. I did have concerns about Singleton seeming to fall off a lot of tackles, but he really set a good lead.

One area I would pick up on your post though, was execution. We totally dominated that game, and the scoreline heavely flattered Wigan, we did not take advantage of a lot of chances. That area could and should improve.

I was going to post that (without the Silverwood bit)

An excellent performance by a group who looked incredibly focused on the job in hand. They seemed to be a comfort zone i.e. totally confident in what they could achieve knowing if they notched their game up 10-20% they were going to tough to beat. Personally I thought Sinfield was magnificent in the way he lead his troops, never did he looked anything but confident in his charges.

Peacock probably shaded the MOM for me although both Ablett and Hall ran him close, in fact it would be churlish to suggest any of the team didn't make a valuable contribution.

You have to wonder at JJB's fitness and sheer inner mental strength, he must have been hurting for long periods in that game yet it never showed. Delanney added some real go forward when it was needed.

Singleton was again excellent if a bit over-eager experience will enable him to regulate his effort more effectively. I was impressed with Sutcliffe's cameo he looked very dangerous and his combination with Watkins and BJB could be very effective add that to the Ablett Moon Hall combo and you have some serious threat on either side.

Interesting game plan from McDermott - throw it around to stretch and tire Wigan and then make it an attritional game down the middle.

I disagree with Gotcha on one point Wigan are a very proficient defensive unit, that performance would have yielded a bigger score against either Warrington or Huddersfield

Cracking post G1.

Looking like a more confident and focused side, maybe a few needed the better bonus of finishing 3rd rather than 4th ha. Looks more optimistic going into the playoffs like that than the last month that has been up and down. Playoffs should be a treat!

And not a word was said.

That thought crossed my mind too last night.
After a couple of high tackles on Hall by Goulding, for him to then get a crack in the face by one of his own players must have seemed like justice to Phil Clarke. Don't recall him mentioning it mind.....

Great effort.

Leeds gearing up again.

We had to win the ruck and did so easily, the quick blind side plays made making yards very easy. Good, solid, sets followed by a great kick chase.

We made Wigan look very ordinary and their form going into playoffs will be worrying for Stress Eric Wane.

The amount of yards and bump offs made by Ablett, JP and Hall was scary.

Nice to see Zak and BJB come back around.

And the impact Singleton offered was superb, going under the radar but doing all the little things right. Nothing subtle about him he just wants to blast it up as hard as he can.

Shame we didn't get to see Achurch in more meaningful game time.

Thought Kirke had his best game for months, which was badly due. IIRC he even showed some emotion and lashed out with a 'knee up' at the PTB. Whatever next......

What was pleasing last night was our defence line speed, we got up to the Wigan attacker quick and in a solid line. Unlike several occasions this season when certain players have jumped out the line. This completely shut down various Wigan moves.
It also pressurized smiths kicking game, wigans kicking game was poor. On the night Wigan came off second best, not because they were off form, it was down to us not letting them play or dictate any passage of the game.
As for Delaney and Jjb to return and play like that was remarkable, top marks to both of them, and also to the conditioning team for the fitness levels of those two.

JJB after about an hour, without going off, he was blowing....hard.

1 play later he was sprinting to get to dummy half...Sinfield got there too and moved the ball. But those little examples of true commitment highlight a players mental attitude.

Legend.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctkuUzJMXKA Again? Surely not.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctkuUzJMXKA Again? Surely not.

Some clever little bits of game-planning off the training pitch last night.

The little scoot blind side then turn it back in to the player who had just played the ball caught out Wigan's aggressive marker defence a couple of times. Both markers set off after the dummy half, leaving a gap back behind the ruck.

The fitness and intensity levels were good from both sides in a game which had few stoppages due to a low error count.

Thought Leeds got a little lucky on the Thornley no-try, but then again Wigan shouldn't have had field position to start with from the 40-22 kick.

Anyone clarify what the ruling is on the tackle being completed on a grounded player? Thought Hall's momentum had stopped when Tomkins completed the ball steal, which would have made it illegal?

But Hall's ball carrying arm hadn't hit the ground.
That can be the only inference.
The poor 40/22 (like it AG) & the odd forward pass from dummy half from both sides apart, I thought the officiating was pretty good last night.

I quite liked the tactic of McDermotts to leave 2 players on the becnh for 60mins this week. It got match minutes into the legs of JJB, Delaney & McGuire, whilst conditioning the team to play a high intensity game with low numbers, whilst then able to bring on 2 completely fresh pairs of legs for the last 20 mins to seal the game. Wins all round