YEP Jury: Fantastic team effort puts Leeds Rhinos on the brink of grand finale

KATIE BURROWS

We made a last minute decision to head over to the DW on Thursday evening and I’m so glad we did. From the minute we arrived the atmosphere and support was incredible, and I just had a feeling we were going to win.

There were the usual careless passes into touch and some poor discipline in the early stages, but I thought our defence was fantastic throughout.

We looked like a different team to the one that was trampled by St Helens a few weeks earlier.

Wigan were arguably poor and lacked any attacking creativity, but the way we kept players like John Bateman and Jackson Hastings at bay shows we are worthy semi-finalists.

I’ve seen a lot of people criticise the game, saying it was dull and shows how downhill the game has gone – it probably wasn’t the best spectacle for a neutral, but I’m sure most Rhinos enjoyed it.

We were well beaten by Saints earlier this month, and whilst we have some bodies back, I fear it could be a game too far.

Hopefully I’m proven wrong and we go marching onto Old Trafford next week!

MATT FOWLER

Through all the adversity this team keeps on finding a way to win. Wigan have had their troubles but to nil them again was a terrific effort.

We have been defensively sound all season, but we found another gear and shut out anything Wigan did send our way. Kruise Leeming at scrum-half has been a revelation and produced another outstanding performance. Like I said last week, this time of year the fans and players come alive and this week we need everything to go our way.

Saints away is the toughest challenge, they are still the best team, in my opinion. We will need our forward pack to dominate.

That will be no easy task with Alex Walmsley in top form, but he needs to be stopped if we have any chance.

We may have more troops back to help but I don’t think the team will change significantly.

It looks as though we will travel in good spirits and with a sizable following.

Anything can happen in these games and we need to stay in the fight. With the fans in full voice will Old Trafford await for Leeds?

CHRISTINE KIDD

Leeds Rhinos are one game away from Old Trafford and the Grand Final. That’s not something I thought I would be saying earlier in the season.

The Rhinos players however had other ideas and they have achieved more than they could have hoped for by winning their first play-off game at Wigan Warriors.

The game last Thursday was a fantastic team effort. Everyone in the team worked hard for each other.

It was good to see Mikolaj Oledski back on the field after his injury.

He made a big difference, as he always does. Ash Handley put in a leader’s performance and his try was the difference between the two teams.

Defences were on top and to keep Wigan scoreless at home for the second time this season was very impressive.

St Helens on Friday will be a different story and the Rhinos will hope that they can stop Alex Walmsley from doing what he did to them a few weeks ago.

Saints deservedly finished second in the league and it will take a big effort to beat them and get to Old Trafford, but nothing is impossible.

GAVIN MILLER