Sam Tomkins snatches win for Wigan at Leeds
Sam Tomkins added a late drop-goal to hand Wigan their first win at Leeds since 2012.
Brian McDermott made four changes to his Leeds outfit that won at Wakefield last weekend. Joel Moon, Anthony Mullally, Brett Delaney and Adam Cuthbertson came in for Liam Sutcliffe, Josh Walters, Brad Dwyer and Brett Ferres.
Wigan coach Shaun Wane made two changes to his side that won in Perpignan last time out. Joel Tomkins and Taulima Tautai replaced the injured Ben Flower and Gabe Hamlin.
The first video referee decision came in the eighth minute. The ball was booted dead by Tommy Leuluai before Leeds half-back Richie Myler could touch down.
Jamie Jones-Buchanan thought he had scored for Leeds, but it was ruled out by the video referee due to a loose carry from Kallum Watkins earlier in the play.
Leeds scored the opening try of the game midway through the first half. Richie Myler threw a cut-out pass to Tom Briscoe who went over in the corner. Watkins converted to put his side 6-0 up.
Wigan had a couple of sets near the Leeds line in the latter stages of the first half, but handling errors let them down. Briscoe’s try was the only thing separating the sides at half time.
It was a poor start to the second half from the Warriors, who lost Sam Powell two minutes after the restart. The half-back was sin-binned for a dangerous tackle on Ashton Golding, which left the Jamaica star suffering a sore neck.
The visitors made it a nail-biting finish at Emerald Headingley. Wigan shipped the ball wide to Oliver Gildart who dived over in the corner. Sam Tomkins converted from the touchline, but they still trailed 8-6 after 71 minutes.
Delaney committed a high tackle on Powell in the 75thminute and as a result, Wigan opted to take a shot at goal. Sam Tomkins levelled the score with a penalty goal.
Sam Tomkins showed nerves of steel to add an impressive drop-goal from 30 metres out in the 77thminute to edge his side in a 9-8 advantage.
Richie Myler, who was a standout in the game, attempted a one-pointer with just a minute remaining, but he dragged it wide. Wigan hung on for a narrow, but crucial, 9-8 victory at Leeds.
Leeds: Golding; Briscoe, Watkins, Handley, Hall; Moon, Myler; Delaney, Parcell, Singleton, Jones-Buchanan, Ward, Ablett. Subs: Cuthbertson, Smith, Oledzki, Mullally.
Wigan: S Tomkins; Marshall, Bateman, Gildart, Burgess; Williams, Powell; Clubb, Leuluai, Navarrete, Isa, Farrell, O’Loughlin. Subs: Sarginson, J Tomkins, Sutton, Tautai.
Stamen: Richie Myler bossed Leeds around the park brilliantly and his kicking game was on point.
Attendance: 12,221