IT’S STRIFE OF BRIAN TIME!

Rhinos flops are trampled

BRIAN McDERMOTT’S woeful champions are in crisis mode after this record-breaking defeat.

Leeds’ seventh Super League reverse on the bounce – their worst ever run – was on the cards from early on.

And the Rhinos’ problems could be even worse by tomorrow night if both Huddersfield and Catalans win their games.

That would plunge injury-hit Leeds into the bottom four, with only four games of the regular season remaining.

On this form, it’s a disaster waiting to happen because they are showing little sign that they know how to change things around.

It mirrors their fate of two years ago when they suffered the embarrassment of a relegation battle a year after winning the title.

But this year a scrap in the Middle 8s will be more difficult given the strength of the clubs in the Championship.

It’s a fate scrum-half Richie Myler looked determined to avoid on his return from two concussion injuries.

He gave Leeds a perfect start with a high kick that Brett Ferres finished off for a fifth-minute lead.

But, apart from that, it was an error-strewn display and there was little for their travelling fans to cheer about.

Wigan, who came into the game on the back of four defeats in five games, took control early on with two Liam Marshall tries.

They then punished Leeds for giving away two sloppy penalties, Sam Tomkins converting both of them. And when Josh Woods darted his way past some poor defence, the writing was on the wall for the Rhinos.

Second-placed Wigan led 22-4 at half-time and stretched their lead with tries from Liam Farrell and Tommy Leuluai.

At least Leeds, who have 10 key players out injured, hung in and grabbed a consolation try from Joel Moon.

Wigan ended the game with 12 men, after Romaine Navarette was sin-binned, but they still had the final say with tries from Tom Davies and Marshall.