French double books Grand Final return for Wigan

Betfred Super League play-off semi-final

Wigan (14) 18

Tries: French (2), Walters Goals: Keighran 3

Leigh (6) 6

Try: Mulhern Goals: O'Brien

Bevan French kept Wigan connected people for a hat-trick of Super League titles arsenic 2 tries from nan Australian prima helped Warriors flooded Leigh to scope nan Grand Final.

French's first-half double, positive immoderate superb defence successful nan 2nd period, settled a thunderous title astatine nan Brick Community Stadium.

It was a repetition result to past season's play-off semi-final but, while Wigan cruised to a 38-0 triumph 12 months ago, Leigh made nan Warriors activity overmuch harder this clip around.

They put their neighbours nether superior unit astatine times but successful nan extremity past season's quadruple winners had nan composure to book their spot astatine Old Trafford.

Wigan will look nan winners of Saturday's 2nd play-off semi-final betwixt Hull KR and St Helens successful nan Grand Final connected 11 October.

After a chaotic build-up, which progressive a statement complete summons allocations, nan visitors made nan early running.

They had a touchdown by Owen Trout ruled retired successful nan sixth infinitesimal pinch referee Chris Kendall's on-field determination of nary effort opinionated pinch video referee Tom Grant incapable to find immoderate grounds to nan contrary pinch Harry Smith underneath him.

It was Wigan who took nan lead against nan tally of play successful nan 14th infinitesimal done French aft a correction by Bailey Hodgson. The Leigh full-back spilled possession successful a double tackle by Liam Byrne and Liam Farrell and Adam Keighran put French successful for a walk-in.

The Leopards deed backmost successful nan 28th infinitesimal done an improbable root arsenic Robbie Mulhern crossed for his first effort successful 19 months. Mulhern took a debased shot adjacent successful from Edwin Ipape superbly successful nan difficult conditions to large wind complete without a digit laid connected him.

However, nan Papua New Guinea world coughed up a punishment erstwhile he blocked French's statement arsenic he chased Smith's precocious shot and Keighran slotted nan footwear to nudge Wigan into nan lead.

And 8 seconds earlier nan break, French blazed complete for his 2nd effort aft man-of-the-match Jai Field made nan insertion successful midfield and fed nan supporting stand-off.

From location it was nan Warriors' rearguard which decided nan outcome.

Trout looked likelihood connected to people aft breaking done conscionable aft nan hr but a superb screen tackle from Field saved nan location side.

It summed up Wigan's protect resoluteness and they vanished nan occupation pinch nan last play arsenic French put Sam Walters complete arsenic nan Warriors reached a record-equalling 14th Grand Final.

Wigan caput coach Matt Peet told BBC Radio Manchester:

"I thought it came down to immoderate large moments. The Jai Field screen tackle, Adam [Keighran] forcing that correction connected nan footwear pursuit early on… we scored 1 awesome effort and that's each it is.

"It's a batch of group doing nan boring worldly really well.

"You've sewage to highest astatine nan correct time. For maine it intends I get to spot group I emotion nan astir successful nan world having a awesome week and hopefully we are successful."

Leigh caput coach Adrian Lam told BBC Radio Manchester:

"Obviously nan extremity consequence wounded america a small spot but I loved nan effort and you cognize we ne'er gave up.

"It's difficult to deliberation 'there goes different opportunity' but we've conscionable sewage to instrumentality to our processes and cognize that nan difficult activity is getting america to a spot that we want to be.

"We're a batch much beingness now than what we've ever been and we're close. We're really really close."

Wigan: Field; Miski, Keighran, Wardle, Marshall; French, Smith; Byrne, O'Neill, Thompson, Walters, Farrell, Ellis.

Interchanges: Harvard, Nsemba, Mago, Leeming.

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

Interchanges: Hughes, Tuitavake, Davis, Dwyer.

Referee: Chris Kendall.