Leeds Rhinos were 14-8 winners the last time that they met Champions
elect Hull Kingston Rovers in a round seventeen encounter, despite being 8-0
behind at the interval.
Hull KR were slight favourites with the bookies, being
handicapped by two points on the coupon as they looked to go eight points clear
at the top of the table, but a win for the Rhinos would lift them back above St
Helens and into third and importantly, level on points with the Wigan Warriors
in second.
It was the tie of round twenty-three, the outcome would speak
volumes of the prospects of both sides as the end of the season approaches and
all talk is of the play-offs and play-off places.
The game set off like an express train, both sides making it
clear that they weren’t going to leave anything in the locker.
An electric game in an electric atmosphere saw the deadlock
broken on twelve minutes when Jake Connor feigned to kick before dropping the
shoulder, breaking the line, and running the angle for ten metres to score.
Connor added the conversion for 6-0.
Three minutes later and the Rhinos were in again, Presley
Cassell collecting a Kallum Watkins grubber which rebounded off the post pad,
and touching down to the delight of the Southstanders. Connor found the target
again with the conversion, the dream start for the Rhinos.
Hull KR looked a little rattled.
A stunning Lachie Miller try on twenty-five extended the
lead. A Hall intercept and Newman break got the Rhinos downfield and then a
fast play the ball saw the full back fed with the ball fifteen out to go through
the line with quicksilver footwork and score unopposed. Connor kicked the
extras for 18-0.
On thirty-eight Jake Connor attempted a drop goal but the
ball drifted wide of the uprights.
The Robins stepped things up at the start of the second half
but couldn’t make the most of back-to-back repeat sets, the Rhinos defence
holding firm.
Brilliant work from Leeds, Harry Newman tackling Joe Burgess
into touch on fifty-three prevented a certain Hull KR try.
Harry Newman got away with a suicidal offload in his own
goal area on the hour mark when the video referee failed to overturn the on-field
official who thought that Newman had been tackled in the air as he diffused a bomb.
Leeds took full advantage and worked the ball downfield, When
Arthur Mourgue was called for offside on his own goal line, Connor kicked the
penalty goal to give Leeds a 20-0 lead with seventeen minutes remaining.
On sixty-eight the Rhinos iced the cake as Newman hit a gap
off a Brodie Croft pass to go over from ten metres out. Connor added a fifth
goal of the evening for 26-0, the Rhinos totally dominant.
With seven minutes remaining the boot of Connor added
another penalty goal from fifteen metres out as the bad day at the office for
the Robins just kept getting worse, nothing was going right for them, they were
a distant second best on the night.
A late consolation try from Tom Davies, running clear down
the right wing off a Peta Hiku pass enabled KR to avoid what would have been their
first nilling since a loss to the Castleford Tigers in May 2022. Old Leeds
favourite Rhyse Martin added the extras for 6-26.
The Rhinos had the enthusiasm from the first whistle and
never allowed the visitors time with the ball or to settle into any pattern as they
blasted them with wave after wave of attack. Leeds move back to third in the
table, level on points with the Wigan Warriors
Leeds Rhinos: Miller (T), Hall, Newman (T), Handley, Hankinson,
Connor (T, G 6/6), Croft, Palasia, O’Connor, Cassell (T), McDonnell, Hannon, Watkins.
Subs: Littlewood, Lisone, Bentley, Ackers. 18th Man: Shorrocks.
Hull KR: Mourgue, Davies (T), Hiku, Broadbent, Burgess,
Lewis, May, Sue, Litten, Whitbread, Batchelor, Martin (G 1/1), Minchella. Subs: Hadley, Luckley, Doro, Tanginoa. 18th
Man: Brown.
Half-Time: 18-0.
Full-Time: 28-6.
Score Progression: 4-0, 6-0, 10-0, 12-0, 16-0, 18-0 : HT: 20-0, 24-0, 26-0, 28-0, 28-4, 28-6 :FT.
Lead Exchanges: Leeds.
Referee: Jack Smith.
