French double books Grand Final return for Wigan

Play-off semi-final of Betfred Super League

Wigan (14) 18

Walters (2), Walters (3), Keighran (3).

Leigh (6) 6

With two tries from the Australian star, Wigan was on course for a hat-trick of Super League titles to defeat Leigh in the Grand Final.

A thunderous contest was settled at Brick Community Stadium by French’s first-half double, plus some excellent defense in the second period.

The play-off semi-final resulted from the previous year’s previous winner, but Leigh made the Warriors work much harder this time around, surpassing Wigan by 38-0.

Even so, they put their neighbors under a lot of pressure, but in the end, last season’s quadruple winners stayed put and secured a spot at Old Trafford.

On October 11, Wigan will face Hull KR and St Helens, who were eliminated from Saturday’s second play-off semi-final.

The visitors made the early running after a chaotic build-up that involved a row over ticket allocations.

With Harry Smith subdued in the sixth minute, the touchdown was denied by referee Chris Kendall’s no-try decision on the field, with video referee Tom Grant unable to find any supporting evidence.

Following a mistake by Bailey Hodgson, Wigan took the lead in the 14th minute through French. French was given a walk-in by Liam Byrne, Liam Farrell, and Adam Keighran as a result of a double tackle by the Leigh full-back.

Robbie Mulhern crossed for his first try in 19 months in the 28th minute, which the Leopards retaliated against through an unlikely source. In the challenging circumstances, Mullhern superbly stormed over from Edwin Ipape without a single finger.

However, when he blocked French’s high ball in the pursuit of Smith, the Papua New Guinea international collected a penalty and fired the kick into Wigan.

And eight seconds before the break, French blazed over for his second try after Jai Field, the match’s man, inserted in midfield and fed the supporting stand-off.

The Warriors’ rearguard then made the final decision.

Trout and Trout were on the verge of scoring when Trout broke through just after the hour, but Field’s brilliant cover tackle saved the visitors.

Changes: Leeming, Nsemba, Mago, and Harvard.

Leigh: Hodgson, Charnley, Niu, Hanley, Brand, O’Brien, Lam, Ofahengaue, Ipape, Mulhern, Halton, Trout, Liu, and Niu.

Hughes, Tuitavake, Davis, and Dwyer make changes.