Thomas Leuluai earned the family bragging rights as Wigan ended the unbeaten home record of Super League champions Leeds and closed the gap on them to just two points.

Prop forward Kylie Leuluai scored his first try of the season for the Rhinos - doubling his tally for the club in the process - five minutes before half-time to restore his side's lead.

But cousin Thomas, the Warriors scrum-half, replied for the visitors just four minutes later as the lead changed hands for a third time and Wigan tackled their hearts out in a scoreless second half to secure a precious victory in front of a Headingley crowd off 18,769.

Only the boot of Pat Richards separated the sides after a defence-dominated opening 40 minutes which began in bright sunshine before being punctuated by a hailstorm.

Wigan gave a debut to 19-year-old half-back Thomas Coyle in the continued absence of Australian playmaking star Trent Barrett and he performed admirably with some clever tactical kicking.

Leeds, who faced former full-back Richard Mathers, gave a full debut at loose forward to rugby union Simon Worrall, with skipper Kevin Sinfield switching to stand-off in place of the injured Danny McGuire.

The Rhinos suffered another injury blow when second-rower Ali Lauitiiti hobbled off after only seven minutes but they took the lead three minutes later when hooker Matt Diskin re-gathered Sinfield's high-bouncing kick and sent winger Scott Donald over for his 10th try of the season.

But Headingley seems to bring the best out in Wigan, who have now won there four times in the last three years, and they scored an equalising try on 16 minutes when skipper Sean O'Loughlin got centre George Carmont through a gap and Richards was on hand to finish off the move.

Richards kicked the conversion and also booted a 43-metre goal after Leeds centre Keith Senior was penalised in possession to make it 8-4.

With Great Britain forwards Jamie Peacock and Gareth Ellis leading the way, the Rhinos began to get on top and they regained the lead five minutes before half-time when Kylie Leuluai took a short pass from Sinfield to crash over.

Sinfield's conversion made it 10-8 but two handling errors put the hosts under pressure and Wigan seized their opportunity by scoring their second try in the last act of the half.

Thomas Leuluai was at the shoulder of substitute prop Iafeta Paleaaesina to grab his third try of the season, to which Richards added his third goal.

Wigan also suffered further injury woe when centre Darrell Goulding went off with a knee problem just two minutes into the second half but Phil Bailey switched effortlessly from the pack to plug the gap.

Warriors were forced to defend for long periods of the second half as Leeds exerted tremendous pressure but they were up to the task.

The Rhinos thought they had drawn level when winger Lee Smith went over at the corner after 69 minutes but the try was disallowed for a forward pass and Wigan survived another scare three minutes from the end when makeshift centre Carl Ablett lost the ball going for the line.