1st half Leeds were magificant and we were completely battered. I guess a 'game of two halves' could really be applied, because when we went 12-11 up I expected us to have the momentum to go on and win, but full credit to Leeds and their tenacity, never say die attitude which is something i'd love Wigan to somehow adopt. Sinfield really made a mockery of his doubters (and i'll admit I have been in the 'Sinfield is w@nk' stable for many years) and his kicking game won the game for Leeds. Good luck next week, although it's a grand final so you obviously won't need it

Just makes you wonder how long we will have to wait for a decent kicking game which can make all the difference in knock out games.

On reflection I can't help but think that we are really missing Andy Coley and Paul Deacon, two players that would have made a huge difference tonight.

Gutted, but well played Leeds, deserved it for their defensive effort, God only knows how many ankle tap tackles they made tonight but that determination to "get there" won them the game.

A great effort from Leeds, they never let Wigan build any momentum. Sinfield's kicks had us pinned into our 20m zone, and then the defence was ferocious to keep us there. Great stuff.

Credit for the gracious comments, though I don't get people's 'change in opinion' on sinfield he's been doing it for years guiding his team to success, so not sure why anyone would think he's ever been 'w@nk'? No he's not the strongest, quickest or flashiest but that's a very simplistic way of looking at rugby league.

I have to admit that it's difficult to be gracious in any way given the conversations in the forums over the last week, everything from Wigan are scum to worse.

However, the difference in the two teams is obvious, 3-4 in the tackle from Leeds and a set defence having slowed the play the ball. 2 and maybe 3 in defence from Wigan and a defence that needs to work harder.

In gripe.... Hanson's "knee", forrrrwwwaarrdd and offside. The latter two just weren't something that the ref seemed to care about.

Wasn't unhappy with Marilyn Manson's knee.......providing we see a penalty for it more often and not just a one off in a very tight game where possession and territory were all. Regulary see much more interference at the play of the ball (and often from McGuire at Leeds) that goes unpunished.

And when it comes to gripes, there was Goulding's initially not square before making the tackle on Lunt and then his more obvious knocking out of the ball that resulted in a Wigan scrum. Wasn't too sure about Carmont's tackle on Burrow that stopped him grounding the ball....more and more players are going in with the knees although in most cases it doesn't dislodge the ball.

Its nice to see Leeds getting credit for their great achievement, every year they raise their game and play playoff rugby perfectly.

Last year they did this to us and just sneaked past us too but nobody gave them the credit they just assumed that we were bottlers who were really streets ahead of the rest of the league but can't play playoff rugby. Hopefully now people will start to stop being obsessed with us being bottlers and see that playoff defeats can happen to anyone, Wigan got beat twice in a row by Saints last year and to Leeds now, it doesn't mean they are bottlers, it just means they are a great side that gets beat in playoffs.

I still think Wigan should be called champions this season for topping the league.

Really pleasing to see the comments from Wigan fans in this thread and the credit given to Leeds' performance - it's much appreciated after lots of banter/bile (delete as applicable) all week.



As has already been said, awesome game and shame there had to be a loser!

Well done to Leeds.

Again they have shown how to keep themselves in a game through sheer hard work, determination and a simple game plan.

It's a shame for Murphy that he came up with the error at the end that resulted in the penalty, but if Wigan had used their heads a little more and executed better at the other end of the field he wouldn't have been put in that position.

It was exactly what a semi-final should be, hard, aggressive and intense.

It also highlighted the current problem with the rest of the season - you can count on one hand the number of games that got anywhere near as intense as that - and a team that for the majority for the season their fans have been calling for the coach to be sacked and in all honesty had been poor, are now in the final on the back of a good game last week and a very good game this week.

Well what a pleasant surprise. Hardly a word blaming anyone but yourselves. Credit due.

Exactly. We have some wise heads in that side (or we should have) yet we can never grind a win out as we play dumb rugby. Sinfield put the ball in touch or put points on the board or turned us around at every opportunity. We were a point ahead with 5/6 to go and tried to keep the ball in play and force a try. Leeds go ahead and have 4 nothing drives before putting the ball in touch 5 from our line.

We didn't need to score at 12 11. They did. We should have pinned them in their 20 and made them go 80 yards. Poor play and then poor discipline cost us that game NOT Jack Murphy.

There are many fans of other clubs who admit they don't think Sinfield is a good player.

What he is though is a fantastic leader...and has proved it time and again since 2004.
It's no coincidence that when he plays well, and bosses the game like last night, Leeds grind out the wins.

Wigan don't have that leader. O'Loughlin is arguably a better all round player, but he's not a better leader

I can't imagine the final being as good a game as last night!

Well done Leeds and Mr Sinfield! I will eat my words and say you should be champions of something, play off rugby; you’ve got it nailed to a T. Your pride and commitment to each other was tremendous and though we tried we couldn’t match it on the night. So once again to the Rhinos and most (not the really nasty ones lol) of the Leeds fans I have shared banter with this week, well done again and good luck next week. Give us another game like that please!

Three cheers!

A superb game of Rugby League, both sides deserve credit for their defensive commitment. Leeds deserved it if only for the fact that they were smarter and played the conditions brilliantly.

Just to echo Conroys comments, Wigans "leaders" (particularly Finch and Tommy) should have had the nous in those last five minutes to get the ball dead and make Leeds come from deep. Sinfield showed how it should have been done.

Again, what a brilliant game that could have gone either way right up to the final whistle, and that's what fans want too see