Rugby League: Leeds-Wigan spat is turning into a heavyweight bout

Given the marginally disappointing gates for the play-offs so far, a cynic might look at the current Leeds-Wigan spat and see an attempt to sell tickets. Its all a bit David Haye versus Audley Harrison.

I dont know how those two really feel about each other. I do know that there is genuine bad blood between the two rugby league clubs.

So what exactly has happened? Rewind to the play-off at the DW. Last minute, Pat Richards down the left wing, Danny McGuire pulls back the supporting George Carmont, who may or may not have got there to take an inside pass and score a winning try.

Thierry Alibert plays on, but later gives a penalty for a late tackle after Richards has kicked ahead. Meanwhile, McGuire is carried off having wrecked his knee in the challenge on Carmont, two Wigan players having given him a mouthful whilst hes on the ground.

It all made for a frantically exciting finish, but the matter was a long way from being over. Enter Skys Phil Clarke with some ill-chosen words to the effect that McGuires fate was what he deserved. It isnt such a surprising point of view and is exactly what some Wigan fans would have been saying, but thats not to say that its the sort of thing you want to put in your internet column with your smiling face above it.

There are some incandescent Leeds fans who will probably make it impossible for Phil to do his usual on-field pre-match analysis at Headingley. They will allege a blatant pro-Wigan bias. What about Joel Tomkins kick on McGuire earlier in the game? One of the aspects of this affair that has not been much discussed is how little McGuire made of that.

Enter Brian McClennan, calling Clarkes comments tasteless, followed by Jamie Peacock, describing Messrs Leuluai and Riddell as cowardly. Not a word that is thrown around lightly in rugby league and a sure sign that feelings are running very high.

This is a match that should not really need any hard-sell and oill moider da bum posturing, but it has had it. Any little inciden! t in the first few minutes is likely to be blown up out of all proportion. I dont know about you, but I cant wait.

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