Leeds Rhinos 6 Wigan Warriors 26: Minute proves a long time but just not long enough for Leeds

After a knock-on or penalty is conceded, it translates to the amount of time it may take to defend the subsequent set of six tackles and the realisation that a minute's toil is needed to see you emerge on the other side, line intact.

The point where Leeds Rhinos lost hold of their Super League title emerged amid one such outstanding period on Saturday night when an inspired Wigan side protected their whitewash with such ferocity, determination and desperation it seems unlikely, if repeated this weekend, even 'St Keiron' will be able to deny them a first championship in 12 years.

With 54 minutes on the clock and trailing 20-6, Leeds knew they needed to strike quickly to drag themselves back into the contest.

When Stuart Fielden was caught not square at marker, they were handed prime attacking position and subsequently launched a fierce onslaught.

First, Brent Webb created enough space to allow Keith Senior to put Scott Donald in at the corner only for Wigan full-back Sam Tomkins to somehow deny the winger inches short.

The next play saw Kevin Sinfield's grubber kick seem certain to enable Jamie Jones-Buchanan to score between the posts but Paul Deacon emerged from nowhere to drag him down with another desperate tackle.

A surging Carl Ablett thought he was over next up but gutsy George Carmont slammed the door shut yet again.

Rob Burrow then dinked a kick behind the line, this time for the lurking Ryan Hall, but Tomkins – just 30 seconds after thwarting Leeds on one wing – scrambled across to the other to boot the ball halfway to Manchester.

It had been breathless stuff. Rarely can a side have come so agonisingly close to scoring in four consecutive plays only to be thwarted – but Leeds were not finished.

After the resulting drop-out, Webb did brilliantly to collect a loose pass and steam towards the posts but Tomkins stuck out a flailing arm to slow the Kiwi's progress and Mark Riddell – typical of Wigan's immense work ethic – was on hand to finish the job.

Carmont hacked a wayward Leeds pass clear soon after and the pressure was relieved when Senior argued a decision with referee Richard Silverwood and was duly penalised for dissent, bringing back dark memories of another evening when they were frustratingly foiled by obdurate, impenetrable opposition – Melbourne Storm.

So much has occurred since that World Club Challenge defeat back in February night, with Leeds battling against plenty of tribulations to reach a Challenge Cup final and defy the odds to get within 80 minutes of Old Trafford, but ultimately they have finished trophyless for the first time in four years

Two tries in five minutes following the resumption irretrievably hurt the hosts and it was no comfort that all of Wigan's tries arrived in scrappy style.

Finely balanced at 8-6 in the visitors' favour at half-time, Leeds were caught cold just 58 seconds into the second period when Donald, playing his final Rhinos game before returning to Australia to become a police officer, mis-judged Deacon's hanging kick.

Joel Tomkins juggled the loose ball to cross and soon after Carmont toe-poked his way over in another messy effort.

On that, Leeds may have doubted video referee Ben Thaler's decision amid the grey area of ball-stealing but could have few arguments given their solitary 18th-minute score from Sinfield arrived in similar circumstances.

It is further testimony to Wigan's unyielding defence – the finest in Super League – that they held their line for more than an hour thereafter.

The visitors were nowhere near as fluent as they have been at times this season on their way to claiming Leeds's League Leaders Shield, particularly with a dysfunctional kicking game in the first period, and with only Sam Tomkins offering fleeting glimpses of flair.

But, after Pat Richards's penalty, they scored from a rare attacking chance through Darrell Goulding to go 8-6 ahead and ground out the victory, bolstered by a splendid spell off the bench from young prop Paul Prescott, a position where Leeds's lack of numbers finally caught up with them.

Already missing the irreplaceable presence of Jamie Peacock and fellow front-row Luke Burgess with injuries, Ryan Bailey departed in the first half with a thigh problem which left Brian McClennan's men short of muscle.

The sight of Sinfield having to take in the first drive from a tap 20metre re-start – on top of all the other duties he was performing given the crucial absence of playmaker Danny McGuire – summed up the state the champions were in during that difficult start to the second period.

They never recovered and jubilant Wigan – who fell one game short of Old Trafford in 2004, 2007 and 2008 each time at Headingley – progress although Martin Gleeson's try in the final seconds resulted in a harsh final scoreline.

Leeds Rhinos: Webb, Donald, Senior, Delaney, Hall, Sinfield, Burrow, K Leuluai, Buderus, Bailey, Ablett, Kirke, Jones-Buchanan. Substitutes: Diskin, Eastwood, Lauitiiti, Clarkson.

Wigan Warriors: S Tomkins, Goulding, Gleeson, Carmont, Richards, Deacon, T Leuluai, Fielden, Riddell, Coley, Hansen. J Tomkins, O'Loughlin. Substitutes: Prescott, Paleaaesina, McIlorum, Farrell.

Referee: Richard Silverwood (Mirfield).

MATCH FOCUS

Hero: Brent Webb

Leeds's Kiwi full-back tried his utmost to drag his side back into the game, coming up with most of their best creative moments in the absence of Danny McGuire. In hindsight, Rhinos may regret actually not playing him at No 6 and bringing Lee Smith in as another attacking threat.

Villain: Scott Donald

Harsh to give anyone this title following such a spirited effort but if the Australian winger had dealt better with Paul Deacon's kick early in the second period, which resulted in Joel Tomkins's try, Wigan may never have got that much-needed momentum.

Key moment

54th minute: Relentless pressure on Wigan's line which ultimately ended with no Leeds points was a real turning point; they needed to score but simply had no answer to their foes' stubborn resistance.

Ref watch

Richard Silverwood: Incurred the wrath of Leeds supporters with some of his calls but, on closer inspection, largely got things right, as did video referee Ben Thaler.

Verdict

A game too far for Leeds but unsurprising given two of the first three names on their teamsheet – Jamie Peacock and Danny McGuire – were absent. Wigan deserve to be in the final. The table does not lie and the top two yet again play-off at Old Trafford.

Quote of the day

A club like Leeds expects success and we have failed as a team this year. We have to do something about it. We have to play better than we did this season, start better and change some stuff. Rhinos scrum-half Rob Burrow's honest assessment.

Next game

None until next year for Leeds – an unusual state of affairs with a Grand Final still to play.