Leeds' Grand Final win over Wigan counts for nothing, says Josh Walters

Josh Walters says Leeds Rhinos will have to forget about last year's treble success when they travel to Wigan on Friday.

The two finalists from last season's Super League Grand Final meet at the DW Stadium on Friday night, just five months after Leeds' 22-20 victory at Old Trafford.

Walters, 21, scored the match-winning try that day to complete a historical treble for the Headingley club.

However, the Rhinos have started this season in reverse fashion - losing their opening three fixtures before narrowly beating bottom of the league Huddersfield last weekend.

Meanwhile, Wigan hold one of only two 100 per cent records remaining in the league this season and Walters admits that his side will be underdogs heading into Friday's match.

"There's been a lot of casting our minds back to the Grand Final but we are under no illusions that it's going to be tough to go there, they're a really strong side," Walters said.

"After getting our first win (over Huddersfield), we've got a lot of positive things to work on.

"But we've got to forget about last year, move on, get our heads down and concentrate on this game. There are a lot of different players and, in a way, we've got to earn the right to talk about what we did last year."

Leeds will be without a number of regular first team players for match, including Tom Briscoe, Joel Moon, Ash Handley and Ashton Golding.

However, Wigan coach Shaun Wane is not underestimating his side's opponents, despite their current injury woes.

"There are too many good players at Leeds," he said.

"I'm not falling into the trap of looking at their form or league position. They've got injuries but so has every Super League team.

"Leeds are a fantastic team, what they did last year was unbelievable and I've every respect for them."

Wigan have won all four games in Super League so far this season, including a last gasp 26-25 victory over Hull FC last week. Wane says his side have done well to grind out results in the early stages of the competition.

"I'm very happy with where we're at," Wane said.

"We're finding a way to win these games.

"We are making hard work of some of them which is uncomfortable for me but we're still finding a way to win and that's the positive. To go four from four not playing well and not having the players together that much shows that the team have a good winning mentality."

Wigan Warriors: John Bateman, Joe Bretherton, Gregg Burke, Josh Charnley, Tony Clubb, Liam Farrell, Ben Flower, Anthony Gelling, Oliver Gildart, Nick Gregson, Dom Manfredi, Lee Mossop, Sean O'Loughlin, Sam Powell, Dan Sarginson, Matty Smith, Ryan Sutton, Taulima Tautai, George Williams.

Leeds Rhinos: Mitch Achurch, Jordan Baldwinson, Rob Burrow, Adam Cuthbertson, Beau Falloon, Brett Ferres, Keith Galloway, Mitch Garbutt, Ryan Hall, Ash Handley, Zak Hardaker, Jamie Jones-Buchanan, Jimmy Keinhorst, Jordan Lilley, Anthony Mullally, Brad Singleton, Liam Sutcliffe, Josh Walters, Kallum Watkins.