Leigh set up a second consecutive semi-final shot at near-neighbours Wigan after brushing aside visitors Wakefield 26-10 in their Super League elimination playoff.
Three tries in a stirring first period all but sealed the win for Adrian Lam’s side, who will now make the eight-mile trip to the Brick Community Stadium next Friday in a bid to book a place in their first Grand Final.
Leigh will need no reminding that they were thumped 38-0 at the same stage last season, but showed signs in the way they dominated Daryl Powell’s team that this time they will be better equipped for the fight.
The visitors were simply steamrolled in a one-sided first half that effectively ended their hopes of extending their impressive return to the top flight all the way into the last four.
Tries from Keanan Brand, Isaac Liu and Josh Charnley – all converted by Gareth O’Brien – set the tone for a tough night for Powell’s men, who were without first-choice full-back Max Jowitt after his head injury against Salford last week. Leigh started with a period of relentless pressure, Umyla Hanley just denied on the end of Lachlan Lam’s kick through before Hanley popped a pass to Brand to skip over in the corner for the opener.
Josh Charnley touches down for Leigh. Photograph: Nigel French/Bradley Collyer/PA
Poor handling was hardly helping the Wakefield cause, Josh Griffin’s knock-on allowing Joe Ofahengaue to barge within inches, and the inevitable second try soon followed when Lam scooped a short pass to Hanley, whose burst set up Liu to crash over the last tackle.
Charnley scooted over on the opposite flank to extend the home side’s lead and Wakefield’s welcome spell of pressure came much too late for the massed ranks of visiting fans behind the posts.
The away side at least showed signs of fight and Jayden Myers’ persistence got them over for their opener within four minutes of the restart after a lovely floated pass from the impressive Mike McMeeken. But Mason Lino missed his kick from the touchline and a subsequent O’Brien penalty ensured the hosts retained their comfortable advantage heading towards the hour mark.
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Alec Tuitavake sealed it when he twisted over under the posts, but Wakefield’s fans at least got to cheer the try of the night when Cameron Scott shrugged off a series of tackles to charge over from 30 metres with less than 10 minutes left on the clock.
