Leeds Rhinos and Wigan Warriors combined XIII as Jake Connor or Harry Smith call made - Serious About Rugby League
Serious About Rugby League · Sam Cook · 2026-09-01T17:07:53+00:00 · nguồn gốc
The two clear standout teams of the 2026 Super League season face off on Saturday evening in a game that will effectively decide the League Leaders Shield, but what would a Leeds Rhinos and Wigan Warriors’ combined XIII look like?
There’s no doubt that both Leeds and Wigan will be well-represented when the Super League Dream Team is confirmed later this month, though some positions will be a coin toss between respective Rhinos and Warriors stars.
That Dream Team will of course be picked on the basis of overall season form, and it won’t consider current injuries. This combined XIII will only be selected from players who are currently fit, and it will also be selected based on current form.
As such, stars like Danny Levi are ruled out because he won’t be playing come Saturday night, with Brad Arthur even confirming that the hooker may be done for the year.
Here’s the Serious About Rugby League combined XIII of Leeds Rhinos and Wigan Warriors players ahead of Saturday’s possible title decider.
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Leeds Rhinos and Wigan Warriors combined XIII
Full-back: Jai Field (Wigan Warriors)
The two best full-backs in Super League go head to head here, but Field just seems to have an X-factor that Miller doesn’t have, more specifically when it comes to long-distance tries. Field has shown recently that as Wigan absorb pressure, he can just break out and score from deep. He also has ten try contributions in his last five games compared to Miller’s five in five.
Winger: Zach Eckersley and Liam Marshall (both Wigan Warriors)
With Maika Sivo out, it would have been easy to pick the two Wigan wingers here, however, Brad Arthur has confirmed that Sivo will be in the 21-man squad and if there’s a chance he plays, then he cannot be ignored from this combined XIII. Partnering him would be Zach Eckersley who has registered 26 tries in Super League this year, just three behind Sivo, whose return prevents Liam Marshall from featuring here. Marshall deserves an honourable mention though given that he has a ridiculous 588 metres in his last three games.
Centres: Ash Handley (Leeds Rhinos) and Adam Keighran (Wigan Warriors)
For many Ash Handley has been Super League’s best centre this year and whilst his production has obviously gone down without Maika Sivo on his outside, he is still impossible to ignore, though it does feel harsh leaving Jake Wardle out. As for the right centre slot, Adam Keighran has had his best season yet for Wigan and because of who I’m picking in my halves, he will be a welcome goal-kicking option.
Halves: Brodie Croft (Leeds Rhinos) and Harry Smith (Wigan Warriors)
As hinted at above, Jake Connor does not make this team despite a quite frankly ridiculous 42-assist season that has seen him play even better than during last year’s Man of Steel campaign. Instead, Harry Smith is selected with the ‘general’ exactly the sort of player for these games and his form of late has clearly showed that. As for stand-off, French is a better player, perhaps the best in Super League of the last decade, but Brodie Croft has scored in his last nine games and if form is the main metric, then he has to play.
Props: Mikolaj Oledzki (Leeds Rhinos) and Ethan Havard (Wigan Warriors)
Up front and it’s two Englishman, although it’s Havard over Thompson for the Wigan slot. Thompson’s engine is special but Havard is growing into an elite prop, whilst Oledzki’s form would suggest he is there at this moment in time.
Hooker: Brad O’Neill (Wigan Warriors)
England’s number nine, no further questions.
Second-row: Chris Hankinson and James McDonnell (both Leeds Rhinos)
If Junior Nsemba was fit, firing and in form, then he’d almost certainly be in here but he’s currently out. Both Hankinson and McDonnell have been very impressive this season, with the former being a revelation at Leeds in 2026.
Loose forward: Cam Smith (Leeds Rhinos)
If selecting on form, then Cam Smith is a cert at this position. He’s departing at the end of the season and Wakefield will be keen to make sure that the ink is dry on his contract as he’s been incredible of late, with his tries against St Helens and Wakefield two absolutely beauties.