Huge setback for Super League title contenders

The Wigan Warriors won the League Leaders’ Shield on Friday, the Warrington Wolves made it into the playoffs, and Hull KR jumped the Leigh Leopards into fourth place.

The Super League play-off picture is now set and confirmed, and Catalans Dragons, who are just 80 minutes away from making their way back to Old Trafford, must be viewed as one of the Grand Final’s top favorites.

But they are extremely worried about Mitchell Pearce’s potential harm.
As they aim to compete in a second Super League Grand Final, losing his experience could very well dash their title hopes.

Due to Friday night’s outcome, Catalans do have a favorable route to Old Trafford.

The only game that had no bearing on any of these conflicts was between the Leeds Rhinos and the Castleford Tigers, with both teams merely playing for pride.
The Rhinos responded the best after their recent two humiliating defeats.

The Rhinos of Rohan Smith arrived at Headingley tonight with a commanding 46-0 victory over the Tigers despite losing their previous two games by combined scores of 111-0.

The Battle of the Borough, which featured Leigh playing host to Wigan in a fiercely contested match, served as the focal point of the matches regarding the competition at the top of the table.

Given their huge points differential, the Warriors needed only a victory to take home the League Leaders Shield, which they did with a 10-6 victory under the leadership of Matt Peet.

Oliver Gildart had a try in the second half overturned, so that result wasn’t without controversy.

With Wigan’s victory, Catalans and St Helens, who were hosting Hull FC and Salford, respectively, and competing for second place and a home semifinal as well as an essential bye round.

While Salford gave the Dragons a fierce fight in an effort to advance to the playoffs, they ultimately lost 19-9.
Saints carried on with their business and defeated Tony Smith’s FC team by a score of 30-12.

Due to Salford’s defeat, Warrington qualified for the playoffs, and they did so successfully with a 20-8 victory over the Huddersfield Giants. Chris McQueen scored a try in his final game for the losing Giants before hanging up his boots.

The League Leaders Shield was decided, putting Warrington six points ahead of Salford, so Hull KR’s victory at Wakefield Trinity was the crucial result.

Trinity was relegated the previous week, but they were given the responsibility of assisting Leigh in getting a home playoff game by keeping Rovers quiet, but they failed to do so.

In a game where the Rovers ran amok and won obscenely, 56-12, Brad Schneider and Mikey Lewis shone.

Due to the huge margin of victory, Rovers overtook Leigh to move into fourth place, giving them a significant advantage in that they will host the Leopards during the playoffs.

As a result, a playoff scenario has been set up, with St Helens hosting Warrington Wolves and Hull KR hosting Leigh Leopards the following week.
The winners of those games will then play Wigan and Catalans at Old Trafford.