John Kear
Widnes and Wales coach on BBC Radio 5 live

He had to go. It was late and it was direct contact to the head.

"John Bateman, direct contact with the head mate, you're off," says referee Liam Moore.

Wigan are down to 12. Bateman, before he walks off, checks in on Aidan Sezer.

That was a heavy and reckless off-the-ball tackle and Wigan have got their work cut out now to say the least.

Sezer, meanwhile, comes off for a head injury assessment.

Oof. Big tackle from John Bateman on Aidan Sezer who looks out of it as he lies flat out on the floor.

Bateman immediately stays at Sezer's side, knowing he's gone in heavy there. Sezer's surrounded by physios receiving treatment.

Hopefully he's okay.

John Kear
Widnes and Wales coach on BBC Radio 5 live

It was fantastic work from the young hooker Jarrod O'Connor. He chose the right time to run there.

That all came from the Leeds defence pressurising Tommy Leuluai, forcing the error, giving them the field position and Leeds have taken full advantage.

We spoke ahout how much had the first half taken out of Leeds, but how much did the first half take out of Leeds psychologically?

It goes from bad to worse for Wigan. Bevan French is now off and his night is over.

Just over half an hour remains for them to get to the Super League Grand Final.

Bevan French has an ankle injury but has been able to carry on for the second half.

Impressive given how much he was limping just before half-time.

Wigan get the second half going against Leeds who will be attacking the end in front of their fans.

A massive 40 minutes awaits. Who's going to book their place at the Theatre of Dreams?

John Kear
Widnes and Wales coach on BBC Radio 5 sports extra

Image source, PA Media

Wigan have dominated the game of rugby league but not dominated on the scoreboard.

The Warriors have come out with great intensity but Leeds have maintained their effort and resilience on their own line, and it's that that has kept them in the game.

Great credit to Leeds for still being in this game and what a high-quality performance from Wigan in this first 40 minutes.

Francis Cummins
Ex-Leeds player & assistant coach, BBC Radio Leeds

Leeds just keep finding a way to defend their own line.

Wigan, with the amount of possession they have had, will be trotting off thinking their gameplan is going well but they can't get over that line.

Leeds go into the break saying for all the ball they have had, we've defended really well. All we need is one chance and we win the game.

Image source, PA Media

A finely poised semi-final so far.

Wigan have a slight two-point advantage courtesy of Liam Marshall's diving try at the corner.

But Zak Hardaker's penalty has kept Leeds in it despite their lack of possession in the first 40 minutes of this tie.

Jack Dearden
BBC Radio Manchester

This is easily the Rhinos' best spell of the half so far.

You have to hand it to them - their defensive desire and determination has been there for all to see.

Bevan French is limping about the field, now.

Surely Wigan will have to bring him off sooner or later.

Now it's Wigan's turn to defend.

Leeds get to within five metres before they're successfully held up by the hosts.

Can they return for another bite at the Cherry and Whites before the break?

Deficit halved. Having weathered attack after attack from Wigan, Leeds are on the board.

The Rhinos win a penalty 20 metres out after a high tackle on Blake Austin and Zak Hardaker kicks the two against his former club.

No sooner does Zak Hardaker intercept a Jai Field offload does he run on the counter, much to the joy of the sizable travelling Leeds support.

But the former Wigan man's pursuit ends soon after as he's tackled by Harry Smith.

John Kear
Widnes and Wales coach on BBC Radio 5 sports extra

This is good attack from Wigan but it's even better defence from Leeds.

The word that sums the Rhinos up is resilient. They are under so much pressure but they keep turning up for each other.

You feel they have got to break at some stage. It's like water flowing against a dam and there's a crack in the dam - but at the moment it's holding up.

Bevan French, who's been struggling in this first half, gallops down the wing and gains a good 20 metres or so before he's tackled.

He immediately holds his hand up and looks towards the bench. Could his night be over?

Fabulous stuff from Wigan, and particularly the bloodied John Bateman, who keeps the ball alive as they go on the attack as they eventually win another set of six.

Wigan keep pressing as Leeds desperately defend. They eventually hold up Wigan and a roar goes up from their supporters behind them.