Late tries from wingers Karl Pratt and Mark Calderwood earned Leeds victory in a tight Super League against Wigan.

The lead changed hands six times before the Rhinos finished with a flourish to claim their first success at the JJB Stadium.

The win ended Wigan's six-match winning run.

Leeds coach Daryl Powell, basking in the glory of the best nine days of his coaching career, afterwards insisted the Rhinos have what it takes to win their first Super League title.

"When we were beaten by Widnes, everybody was jumping up and down, saying get rid of the coach," said Powell.

"Now we've beaten the two teams tipped to win the competition and I couldn't ask for any more than that.

"We're getting there. I still think we can play better. But, for sheer courage, commitment and team spirit, I thought it was top of the pile."

Wigan had dominated the first half but found themselves trailing 12-10 at the interval after gifting Leeds two tries.

Rhinos stand-off Kevin Sinfield sent Calderwood over for the first of his two tries after just 58 second following a Brett Dallas mistake.

Andy Farrell kicked three goals and Kris Radlinski scored a try to give Wigan a 10-6 lead before Keith Senior crossed as Leeds regained the lead.

Wigan were ahead after 48 minutes when second rower Stephen Wild forced his way past Adrian Vowles for a try.

But Rhinos substitute Pratt got a touch to a clever Ryan Sheridan grubber kick only for Wigan centre David Hodgson to crash over to give the home side a 22-18.

Hodgson had a second try disallowed for a knock-on before Vowles dummied his way through a chink in the Wigan defence.

Leeds then sealed a precious win eight minutes from the end when Calderwood crossed at the corner for his second try .

Hodgson's disallowed try stemmed from one of a series of breaks by brilliant scrum-half Adrian Lam, who did not deserve to be on the losing team.

Lam's half-back partner Julian O'Neill, in particular, had a game to forget and, although Raper did not single out individuals for criticism, he launched into a thinly-veiled attack on the more experienced members of his team.

"We had a game plan but we didn't stick to it," he said.

"There were some dumb plays by some experienced individuals and I will definitely put them through the ringer this week.

"We do a lot of work on the opposition and come up with specific tactics and players take it on themselves to go into the game and win the game in another fashion. I just won't have it."

Wigan: Radlinski, Carney, Connolly, Hodgson, Dallas, O'Neill, Lam, O'Connor, Newton, C. Smith, Jones, Wild, Farrell. Replacements: Howard, Bibey, O'Loughlin, M. Smith.

Leeds: B. Walker, Calderwood, Carroll, Senior, Cummins, Sinfield, Sheridan, Ward, Diskin, McDermott, Hay, Jones-Buchanan, Vowles. Replacements: Morton, McDonald, Pratt, Burrow.

Referee: S Ganson (St Helens)