Wigan Warriors vs Leigh Leopards Prediction: Two picks for heavyweight semi-final

Wigan host rivals Leigh in the first Betfred Super League playoff semi-final, with the build-up to this huge game already dominated by an extraordinary war of words between the two clubs over ticket issues. (Kick-off 20:00)

On the field this was going to be one not to miss anyway, but the rivalry has been really yanked up a notch this week after Leigh chairman Derek Beaumont threatened that his side may not fulfill the fixture at all, over what he claims was an "unacceptable" allocation of tickets. Read on out for Wigan Warriors vs Leigh Leopards prediction.

Team News

Leigh have had enough issues to deal with in their squad this week, even before the unwelcome distraction of the arguments going on upstairs.

A sickness bug has hit some of their squad, with a 21-man party named despite their apparent unwillingness to play.

The good news for Leopards fans is that despite the reports of illness in the camp which has seen several players unable to train for the first part of the week, the 21-man squad is unchanged from last week's comfortable elimination victory over Wakefield Trinity, with boss Adrian Lam therefore able to have the bonus of consistency in selection.

We could see an unchanged matchday 17 too, although last week's 18th man Ethan O'Neill is pushing for inclusion should any of Lam's chosen 17 succumb to ill-health.

Wigan boss Matty Peet has seen his champions ease through the gears at the key point in the campaign and will be confident of another big display here.

Looking at the Warriors' 21-man squad, I would say this is as strong as they could possibly go.

With no game last week, the knocks being carried by goal-kicking centre Adam Keighran, prop Luke Thompson and winger Abbas Miski should be healed, and it is in fact an unnamed squad from the win over Leeds in the final game of the regular season.

Hooker Tom Forber is the only injured player who might have been in with a shout, the youngster continuing his recovery from a dislocated wrist having spent spells on dual-registration with Oldham in the Championship this year.

Wigan Warriors Leigh Leopards Odds

Wigan are 1/3 to win in 80 minutes, the draw 18/1 and Leigh are 13/5.

Handicap 3-way Wigan Warriors -10 @ 21/20

We are offering £5 in Free Bets to use In-Play on the second semi-final between Hull KR v St. Helens on Saturday, for any In-Play bet of £10 or more (odds 1/2+) on Wigan vs Leigh on Friday.

And this could be explosive. I was looking forward to this fixture immensely even before the bizarre goings on this week. The Beaumount / ticket row is certainly one that will test the limits of the "no publicity is bad publicity" claim this week, with rugby league once again in the headlines for drama of its own making rather than the electric action on the pitch.

So let's focus on the latter. These are two heavyweight sides in good form. Leigh never looked in any danger of losing at home to Wakefield in their eliminator last week, while Wigan were afforded the week off courtesy of their top-two finish. That is something that always tests the momentum v freshness argument - I personally would always like to see an in-form side playing to maintain that run, but it has at least allowed plenty of Wigan wounds to heal.

Logging onto the Betfred app as I was writing this preview, I was anticipating seeing a handicap of around 10 points, and feel that is absolutely bang-on.

A fully-firing Leigh can cause real problems for the hosts in a fixture bound to be even spicier after this week's soap opera, but you cannot back against the champions at this stage in the competition on home soil. Leeds Rhinos may disagree with that statement after their shock win in Wigan at this stage in 2022, but on the whole these are the games in which champions show their class.

These two sides met at this stage last year and Wigan won 38-0. That won't happen again but I am struggling to find too many reasons to go with the visitors either. Yes the occasion will be raucous given this week's animosity and there will be a huge Leigh support despite the club wanting even more fans there.

The meetings between these two teams this year saw Leigh beat Wigan 18-8 in July, and Wigan win their home fixture 36-28 in May. Not forgetting of course the opening day of the 2025 season that saw an historic scoreline of Wigan 0-1 Leigh.

So it's 2-1 Leigh ahead of the fourth match-up of the campaign and none of the margins of victory have actually eclipsed the 10-point starting handicap for this one.

But I do feel confident in Wigan at this point in the year. It could well be tight, it may be another one-score game, but I am going to trust my gut and also trust the handicap.

If Wigan can get their noses in front early then the wave of emotion from the travelling fans could subside pretty quickly and the hosts can take control. If Leigh get the start then this could be a classic, but I am backing Wigan on the handicap to reach another Grand Final by a couple of scores.

#PickYourPunt - Wigan -3.5 & Jai Field to score a try @ 13/8

We are offering Super League Double Delight for this fixture, so if your player scores the first try of the match and then goes on to score again, Betfred will double your first try scorer price.

My Leigh banker Umyla Hanley let me down last week so any temptation to look at Leigh this week has probably gone. Wigan's two main threats are winger Liam Marshall and full-back Jai Field who are both 1/1 to score anytime.

As such I will look at a Pick Your Punt selection for a little more value - given I am backing a home win. So a Wigan win by one score and a Field try, gives me a bit of a safety net if my first selection doesn't come through. Unless Leigh produce the performance of the season of course. Then we are in for an absolute belter.

Offers

Super League Double Delight - if your player scores the first try of the match, then goes on to score another, we'll DOUBLE your first tryscorer price!

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