When Leeds Rhinos and Wigan Warriors met in round eleven at Headingley it was the Warriors who scraped a one point victory thanks to a forty metre Sam Tomkins drop goal in the seventy fifth minute.

After five consecutive Super League losses the Rhinos had become embroiled into the middle eights dogfight, and anything other than the two points could see them slip into the danger zone after a disappointing season.

Wigan had their own problems, and themselves have struggled since the announcement that coach Wane would be departing at the end of the season. Still sitting second in the league a win would consolidate their league position as the split approaches.

A shambles in the Wigan defence, as Sam Tomkins and John Bateman collided trying to field a kick, gifted the Rhinos the opening points when Brett Ferres picked up a loose ball and walked over the line. Liam Sutcliffe was unable to add the conversion.

Liam Marshall levelled the scores, diving in by the left corner flag off a Josh Woods pass, after the Rhinos had been forced into consecutive drop outs by relentless Warriors attack. Sam Tomkins kicked the extras from the touchline for a 6-4 lead.

Two minutes later and Marshall was in for his second, again in the left corner, and again off a Woods pass as Wigan moved the ball down the line. Tomkins was again accurate with the boots to put Wigan 12-4 ahead after seventeen minutes.

When Ferres failed to clear the ruck on twenty-one the referee gave Wigan a penalty on the Rhinos twenty and Tomkins kicked the goal to extend the lead.

The Rhinos were becoming their own worst enemy, this time it was Adam Cuthbertson who conceeded the penalty which allowed Tomkins a second penalty goal to extend the leading margin to twelve points.

On thirty-one Wigan got their third try when Josh Woods backed himself and went for the line to ground on the line despite the efforts of Rhinos full back Jack Walker. Tomkins added the goal for 22-4, Wigan were moving out of reach.

Luke Briscoe had a try turned down on forty one for a knock-on as the Rhinos looked to revitalise their challenge. On forty-nine Liam Farrell found space down the left wing after stepping out of a tackle on the Leeds thirty metres. Tomkins added the conversion and the game was over as a contest.

Tommy Leuluai got Wigans fourth try on sixty-four when darting from acting half back after Romaine Navarette had gone close but was held up short. For once, Tomkins couldn’t add the extras but it was of little relevance as Wigan had a 32-4 lead.

On sixty-nine an airborne Tom Briscoe did brilliantly to push the ball back into the field of play from a kick to the corner with the ball being collected and grounded under pressure by Joel Moon for the Rhinos second try of the evening. Sutcliffe pushed the conversion if front of the sticks.

Navarette was sin binned on seventy-one after a crusher tackle on Jack Ormondroyd but Wigan extended their lead on seventy-three through a Tomkins penalty.

The Rhinos paid the price for trying to keep the ball alive on seventy-six and when they put it to ground, Tony Clubb picked it up and broke before passing generously to Tom Davies top sprint the last twenty-five metres to score. Tomkins kicked his eighth goal of the night for 40-8.

Marshall completed his hat-trick with ten second left on the clock thanks to the work of Morgan Escare who broke for fifty metres before using Sam Tomkins to feed the winger. Tomkins kicked another goal for a final score of 46-8.

Wigan rediscovered their mojo against a Rhinos side down on confidence and luck and romped to a big win. The Warriors took the game to the Rhinos at every opportunity and exploited every mistake and moment of indiscipline. The Rhinos have continued their awful run and are now in danger of slipping out of the eight with four matches remaining.

Warriors: Tomkins S (9G), Davies (T), Bateman, Gildart, Marshall (3T), Woods (T), Powell, Clubb, Leuluai (T), Navarette (SB on 71), Isa, Farrell (T), O’Loughlin .  Subs: Hamlin, Greenwood, Escare, Tautai.

Rhinos: Walker, Briscoe T, Sutcliffe, Briscoe L, Hall, Moon (T), Myler, Garbutt, Parcell, Oledzki, Smith, Ferres (T), Cuthbertson.  Subs: Golding, Singleton, Ormondroyd, Walters.

Referee: Ben Thaler.

Half-Time: 22-4.

Full-Time: 46-8.

Attendance: .