Saturday 6 September 2014 12:25, UK
Leeds coach Brian McDermott admits the Super League table "does not make good reading" after a fourth successive defeat scuppered their chances of a top-three finish.
The Challenge Cup winners remain in sixth place with one round of the regular season to play after they went down 21-6 to Wigan in front of a Super League season-best attendance of 20,265 at the DW Stadium on Friday night.
The Rhinos made history in 2011 by becoming the first club to win the Grand Final from fifth place and repeated the feat 12 months later but McDermott is disappointed that they are once more forced to do it the hard way.
"It's not great," McDermott said. "Never mind top four or top two, we wanted to be top and it doesn't make good reading. It's a big thing for a club like Leeds.
"It's something we're not proud of and it's not lost on the players.
"At the same time, the play-offs are an exciting prospect. The likelihood is that we'll finish fifth or sixth and we'll plan for that."
Leeds were outplayed in the first half as Wigan bounced back from their shock defeat at Widnes to open up a 14-0 lead courtesy of tries from Joe Burgess and Matty Smith, who also kicked three goals.
McDermott's men staged a tremendous rally after the break, however, and Liam Sutcliffe's 45th-minute try kept them in the game until Wigan prop Ben Flower stormed over for the winning score 10 minutes from the end.
"Wigan were really intense and up for it," McDermott added. "They had the edge in the first half but the game wasn't won then.
"We played a lot better in the second half and at 14-6 it was very do-able but we gave them too much ball and made too many errors."
Shaun Wane could not hide his delight after the impressive victory, in his 100th game as Wigan coach, lifted his team into second place in the table.
"I'm really pleased," Wane said. "We've been in a tough place in the last few weeks but today we defended really tough and showed that when we keep hold of the ball we can beat teams.
"Credit to Leeds, they never go away, but I thought we were really good.
"At 14-6, I wasn't worried. I thought we were in control. I thought our defence was pretty solid all the way through.
"I've said we can play in big games. If we complete and defend with a bit if desire we can beat anybody."
It was fitting Flower scored Wigan's match-winning try. His powerful bursts had helped his side get off to their impressive start and his late heroics clinched the home team's man-of-the-match award.
"I thought all our middles did well," Wane added. "I think they set a good platform and dominated the middle of the park."
