Leuluai steers Wigan to final
Former Kiwis and Warriors stalwart Thomas Leuluai scored a try as Wigan clinched a place in the Super League grand final.
The 33-year-old celebrated his 250th game for the famous English club by notching the opening try in a 14-0 win over the Castleford Tigers yesterday.
Leuluai – restored to the lineup at scrumhalf – darted between two defenders in the eighth minute.
Former Warriors fullback Sam Tomkins scored all Wigan’s other points with a try, two goals and two field goals to book a berth in next weekend’s grand final against Warrington at Old Trafford.
Leuluai’s display was hailed by the Guardian newspaper, which said: ‘‘Leuluai, like Tomkins, epitomises the character of this Wigan side and on his 250th appearance for the club he was at the heart of a cherry and white wall which would not be beaten all night long’’.
The Mirror noted Leuluai was one of Wigan coach Shaun Wane’s ‘‘most trusted lieutenants’’.
‘‘Kiwi Leuluai plays with the number nine of his back after starting the season at hooker, but the positional switch between him and Sam Powell has been a key part of the Warriors’ ninematch winning run.’’
The Kiwi veteran, who made his first grade debut in 2003, now has a shot at grabbing more grand final glory.
He was man of the match when Wigan won the 2010 Super League Grand Final and also starred in the 2011 Challenge Cup final victory at Wembley before returning to Auckland for three seasons at the Warriors.
Add 79 games for the Warriors (across two stints), 38 for the London Broncos and 39 tests and Leuluai has played over 360 first class rugby league games in a 15-year career.
The match was the final home appearance for Tomkins, who joins the Catalan Dragons next season, and coach Shaun Wane, who is leaving for a high performance job with the Scottish Rugby Union.