Betfred Super League Round 17
Friday 4 July 2025
Leopards Den (8pm)
Leigh Leopards 18-8 Wigan Warriors
Leopards’ magnificent performance in the third Battle of the Borough of the season will long be remembered.
Not since 1983 have Leigh beaten the old enemy home and away in the same season. 42 years ago when more than half of the sell-out 10,375 crowd, the club’s highest for a home Super League game would not have been born.
With Davey Armstrong, Darnell McIntosh and Robbie Mulhern joining the injured list Leopards brought in Bailey Hodgson, Josh Charnley and Alec Tuitavake for the first home game since the pitch was re-laid. All played prominent roles in the win that saw the weekend begin with Leopards sitting proudly in third position.
Hodgson was magnificent at fullback, making over 30 carries and around 250 metres, rightly earning the Player of the Match award. Cool under the high ball, fast and elusive in attack and resilient in defence he put the frustration of a few weeks sitting on the sideline behind him with a stand-out performance.
Charnley was denied his long wait for a 250th Super League try by the video referee after referee Jack Smith gave an on-field try ten minutes from the end, marginally offside after a high kick bobbled around.
Tuitavake was part of a dominant pack which featured starring roles from Owen Trout, Ethan O’Neill and Joe Ofahengaue.
England head coach Shaun Wane named his initial squad for the Ashes series in the week and called for more intensity in Super League games for the run-in to help prepare England’s players for the test series.
He must have been delighted by the intensity and skills of a high-speed, dramatic contest which had a fantastic atmosphere as the backdrop.
Wigan went in 8-0 ahead at half-time thanks to Joe Wardle’s early try and two Adam Keighran goals, the second a 35-metre penalty five minutes before the hooter.
Leopards bombed at least three clear-cut chances amid the bone shuddering collisions of a brutally fought derby game.
The second half was a different story, however, as Tesi Niu’s try on the left from Lachlan Lam’s assist, and Gareth O’Brien’s touchline conversion ignited a stirring comeback.
Twelve minutes remained when Leopards scored one of the tries of the season, a high-speed move that began in their own half ending in Umyla Haney’s great footwork and astoundingly skilful long pass at pace sending the jubilant Edwin Ipape romping in under the posts as the North Standers raised the roof.
This time Wigan failed to come back with the late finish they’ve shown in recent away wins against Huddersfield and Castleford.
Just 17 seconds remained when Trout, one of Wane’s squad selections, sealed a memorable win by getting a hand to a bobbling ball behind the Wigan line to bring a magnificent game to its conclusion.
With seven of their last ten regular season games at the Leopards Den, Adrian Lam’s talented team are aiming to make home advantage count in what promises to be a compelling run-in. Leaders Hull KR visit on Saturday in what should be another classic.
One statistical oddity. In the last home game, when Hull FC won 26-12 on 22 May, all 38 points were scored at the South Stand end.
In this game all 26 points were scored at the North Stand end.
Leopards
Bailey Hodgson; Keanan Brand, Umyla Hanley, Tesi Niu, Josh Charnley; Gareth O’Brien, Lachlan Lam; Joe Ofahengaue, Edwin Ipape, Owen Trout, Frankie Halton, Ethan O’Neill, Isaac Liu
Bench:
Ben McNamara, Alec Tuitavake, Matt Davis, Jack Hughes. 18th player (not used) Andrew Badrock
Tries:
Niu (50), Ipape (68), Trout (80)
Goals:
O’Brien 3/ 3
Warriors
Jai Field; Abbas Miski, Adam Keighran, Jake Wardle, Liam Marshall; Jack Farrimond, Harry Smith; Tyler Dupree, Brad O’Neill, Luke Thompson, Junior Nsemba, Liam Farrell, Kaide Ellis
Bench:
Ethan Havard, Patrick Mago, Liam Byrne, Kruise Leeming. 18th player (not used): Zach Eckersley
Try:
Wardle (5)
Goals:
Keighran 2/ 2
Referee: Jack Smith; Reserve referee: J Pemberton; Touch judges: M Lynn & R Cox; Video referee: Chris Kendall; Timekeeper: K Leyland; M Com: P Smith
Attendance: 10,375 (Leopards Super League record)
Penalty count: 3-3
GLDO: 0-2
Scoring sequence: 0-6, 0-8 (ht) 6-8, 12-8, 18-8
Main Match sponsor: Sean’s Place
Player of the Match sponsor: Advanced Steel Services: awarded to Bailey Hodgson
Match ball sponsor; Bolton Steel Structures Ltd
Champagne Moment sponsors: Headline Events- awarded to Tesi Niu for his try
Official kit partner: Reebok
