Wigan Warriors vs Leigh Leopards Preview & Prediction | 2024 Super League | Semi-Final
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After winning the League Leaders' Shield, Wigan Warriors return to action as they welcome an in-form Leigh Leopards side who will be looking to spring an upset
START DATE/TIME: Saturday 5th October, 2024, UK – 5:30pm / Sunday 6th October, AUS - 2:30am / Saturday 5th October, US ET – 12:30pm / Saturday 5th October, US PT – 9:30am
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK - This match will be broadcast live on Sky Sports + / AUS - This match will be broadcast live on Fox League / US - This match will not be broadcast live
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK - This match will be streamed on SkyGo / AUS - This match will be streamed on Kayo Sports / US - This match will be streamed on SuperLeague+
WIGAN WARRIORS FORM: LEAGUE LEADERS’ SHIELD WINNERS TARGET SECOND CONSECUTIVE GRAND FINAL APPEARANCE
Matt Peet’s men have tuned up nicely for the play-offs and come into it in formidably form. The Warriors have won their last six matches in a row and they are now two wins from winning back-to-back Grand Finals. They now face the Leigh Leopards who they have beaten nine times in a row and they will fully expect to win and progress to Old Trafford.
LAST FIVE: WWWWW
LEIGH LEOPARDS FORM: IN-FORM LEOPARDS LOOKING TO SPRING UPSET
The Leigh Leopards are one of the in-form teams in the Super League having won 11 of their last 13 matches. After grinding through a tough encounter with Salford Red Devils away from home on Friday night, the Leopards now face an even harder challenge in Wigan Warriors. They lost in all three meetings with the Warriors this season and have lost their last nine against them; highlighting just how big their task is here.
LAST FIVE: WWLWW
WIGAN WARRIORS TEAM NEWS: RESTED CHAMPIONS FRESH AND READY TO GO
Wigan will have benefitted significantly from the bye last week having earned that due to winning the regular season competition. That will have allowed their players to have rested up, ease their bumps and bruises and prepare themselves for the final push.
21-MAN SQUAD: TO BE ANNOUNCED…
UNAVAILABLE: TO BE ANNOUNCED…
QUESTIONABLE: TO BE ANNOUNCED…
LEIGH LEOPARDS TEAM NEWS: LAM’S MEN RESET BUT BLIGHTED BY INJURIES
Leigh Leopards lost Josh Charnley due to a scary head and neck injury against Salford and his expected absence for this game will be key. They also saw second-rower Frankie Halton suffer a head injury also having being forced off early in that match and they will come into this clash without those two key men.
There is hope that they will be able to count on Kai O’Donnell following a spleen injury but they will otherwise be hoping the rest of their squad will be fit to play.
21-MAN SQUAD: TO BE ANNOUNCED…
UNAVAILABLE: TO BE ANNOUNCED…
QUESTIONABLE: TO BE ANNOUNCED…
WIGAN WARRIORS VS LEIGH LEOPARDS PREDICTION
Wigan Warriors have been the standout team in the Super League this season and they now have one more step to reach Old Trafford as they bid to retain their Grand Final title. They welcome the Leigh Leopards to town and they will fancy their chances having won their last nine meetings. They have won all three meetings with them this season by a margin or 18 points or more.
One would reasonably expect Leigh to push them and give their all now they are in sudden death mode, but the energy Leigh expended in beating Salford and the injuries they sustained make it seem even more remote that they can come close to beating the Warriors here.
This may be a close for a short period of time, but expect Matt Peet’s men to win and eventually pull away by a double-digit scoreline.
WIGAN WARRIORS VS LEIGH LEOPARDS TIP: WIGAN WARRIORS -9.5 POINTS
