The Leigh Leopards secured their first victory at Wigan Warriors in 42 years, stunning the reigning champion champion, and perhaps the most notable game in their 30-year history.
For the first time since 1993, a professional rugby league match ended 0-0 just a few minutes after 80 pulsation and clenching.
That means the game settles in the extra time of Golden Points, and after just two minutes of extra play, Gareth O'Brien's epic drop goal proves different, ensuring the Leopard wins against the odds. did.
Incredibly, it was the first 1-0 scoreline in a rugby league match in over 30 years, dating back to Barrow's victory at Hull KR in the old 2nd division in 1994. It will compete against Wigan's side, who won all the trophies offered last year. But ultimately, it was Lee who held the nerve when it was most important in an incredible situation.
With a trip to Las Vegas two weeks away and predictions beginning to build, Wigan pulled out all the stops and made the opening night a spectacle both on and off the field. Headline actions? Michael Buffer, the legendary boxing announcer who Sky Sports jumped in to promote Vegas trip: And he introduced the team in a noisy atmosphere.
However, the action took some time to click on the gear on the field. In fact, it's been quite a while. The opening 30 minutes were mainly held in the center of the field, and the strength was unquestionable, but the cutting edges from both sides were somewhat lacking. Wigan came closest in that first 30 minutes, but Luke Thompson failed to ground Bevan French's clever kick.
Lee camped most of his early exchanges within half of his own, but the leopard improved as the break approached. Their introduction of exchange benches began to fine-tune momentum in their favor, but two glorious opportunities to open up points came and went.
The hosts then frantically approached again to break the deadlock, and if it wasn't for Ethan O'Neill's great last-minute tackle, Tyler Dupree would almost certainly have broken and won the first attempt of the night. However, Lee's defensive efforts were very similar to most of the halves from both sides, and proved to be too strong.
There was a historic moment at the first tackle in the second half. The first use of the Captain's Challenge in the Super League after the concept was introduced in the offseason. Wigan was punished for ball steel but failed after Adam Cagaran was determined to have actually ripped the ball out of Lee's defender grasp.
But as the time mark approached, it was also the two pivotal moments. First, the momentum seemed to have swung Lee's way as Wigan's captain Liam Farrell committed a crime for kicking the ball. However, two tackles later, with the advantage of the man, Lee surrendered ownership within his half of his own and managed to get through Jaifield, but once again, ball steel to keep him 0-0 in the buildup There was.
However, the leopard couldn't make a 10-minute spell without the field's Farrell counting for something meaningful. In fact, Wigan's defense strength didn't even speak for visitors while they had a man's advantage. Incredibly, I was still waiting for the first point.
And that wait continues all the way to the end of the 80 minutes, creating Super League history in the process. Both sides spurred the opportunity to kick what was a winning drop goal in the final minutes, and Reede ruined their last chance after Adam Caegalan guilty for Wigan.
However, as the game is extended and once again there are human advantages, Lee didn't let her slip a second chance. O'Brien, who kicked a drop goal that secured Salford's survival in the Million Pound Game almost a decade ago, had his nerves in order to win the game for the Leopard.
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