A breathtaking match-winning try from Lachie Miller helped Leeds Rhinos complete a second-half comeback as they defeated Hull KR 14-8 at Sewell Group Craven Park in round 17 of the Betfred Super League.

After enduring a first half dominated by the 2025 Challenge Cup winners, the Rhinos pulled out all the stops in the second 40 minutes thanks to tries from Sam Lisone and Miller, as well as three goals from Jake Connor, to overturn an eight-point deficit and get the valuable two league points.

The Rhinos named the same starting 13 that defeated the Leigh Leopards last time out, making only one change on the bench. James Bentley was named among the substitutes in place of Jack Sinfield, whilst fellow second rower James McDonnell made his 100^th career appearance. Alfie Edgell remained on the wing, partnering with Ash Handley for his fourth appearance of the Super League campaign.

Leeds were put on high alert inside two minutes as Joe Burgess collected a poor last-tackle kick from Brodie Croft and was allowed to race into open space. With Lachie Miller in the last line of defence, Burgess chose to give the ball away to Arthur Mourgue for what looked to be a try for the home side, but Ryan Hall came across to force a forward pass from the Robins’ full back as he frantically tried to fling the ball to a player in red and white. Leeds didn’t let the chance affect them as they asked questions of the home side too – Alfie Edgell coming up short, with great work from Jake Connor opening up space for the young winger.

A fast and furious start continued as two of Super League’s most impressive sides continued to go at each other, but it was former Rhino Rhyse Martin who broke the deadlock for the home side. A forward pass from Connor gave the Robins the ball in a dangerous position, and after the returning Michael McIlorum threatened to go straight through from the ensuing scrum, Martin was sent through the Leeds defence by a Tyrone May short pass for the PNG international to score the opening points.

The home side kept their foot on Leeds’ throat as back-to-back sets on the Rhinos try line tested the visitors’ resolve. Hiku was cut down just short of the line by a great tackle from Ash Handley, and Jai Whitbread was similarly stopped on the next play, before a knock-on by Lewis turned the ball over. The Rhinos responded as they found joy through the hands of Handley and Watkins, but a knock on from James McDonnell brought an end to a promising chance.

Hull KR added to their score when a knock-on by Lewis was overturned after a captain's challenge revealed a high tackle on Harry Newman with a successful captain's challenge. Mourgue successfully converted the penalty goal to take the score to 8-0, but bad news for the Robins saw Lewis was ruled out for the remainder of the game after he failed his head injury assessment (HIA).

With the half about to expire, back-to-back chances for the home side were chalked off for forward passes as the Rhinos stayed in the contest. Mourgue was caught out trying to put Davies over on a short-side play, and then a break by Kelepi Tanginoa saw the substitute fling a pass forward for what would have been a certain try for Joe Burgess as the score remained 8-0 at the break.

With the scoreline finely balanced, the Rhinos knew an early try could open the contest up, `and they got just that with Sam Lisone. The move started after the substitute copped a high shot from Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and as Leeds ventured closer to the try line, the prop was sent barrelling through by Cameron Smith, cutting the deficit to 8-6 after Connor’s conversion.

Now with a foothold in the game, the Rhinos pushed for another score as Connor connected with Edgell, who was taken down just short by Davies. After Holroyd was caught with the ball on the last tackle, in a turn of events, Waerea-Hargreaves conceded a penalty for dissent and Connor stepped up to level the scores with a straightforward penalty goal.

Both sets of supporters rose to urge their side on as the game moved up a gear with 25 minutes to go. Compared to the first half, Leeds were the team mounting pressure on the league leaders as they completed consecutive sets on the Hull KR try line following a knock-on by Burges. Connor was unlucky as his grubber kick intended for Watkins was pounced on by Martin, turning the ball over, but a game-breaking try from Miller handed Leeds their first lead of the afternoon. Starting with Edgell deep inside his own half, the youngster managed to find a gap on the edge to feed Handley to start the attack, and thanks to touches from Miller, Connor and Handley again, a length-of-the-field move was completed as Miller slid over to cap a spectacular try.

Hull KR were staring down the barrel of only their second defeat of the season with ten minutes remaining and tried everything in the playbook to try and level the game up again. A fumble by Miller in the air saw Whitbread collected to gift the Robins possession, but Leeds’ defence held strong to keep the home side at bay. Chances for Watkins and a drop goal attempt from Brodie Croft could have added further points, but time ran out for Hull KR as Leeds climbed to third in the table with a 14-8 triumph.

Teams

Hull KR

35. Arthur Mourgue, 2. Tom Davies, 3. Peta Hiku, 18. Jack Broadbent, 5. Joe Burgess, 6. Mikey Lewis, 7. Tyrone May, 8. Sauaso Sue, 14. Michael McIlorum, 11. Dean Hadley, 16. Jai Whitbread, 17. Rhyse Martin, 13. Elliot Minchella (C)

Subs: 9. Jez Litten,10. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, 15. Sam Luckley, 20. Kelepi Tanginoa (18^th Man – 21. Jack Brown)

Tries: Martin (10)

Goals: Mourgue 2/2

Rhinos

1. Lachie Miller, 21. Alfie Edgell, 4. Ash Handley (CC), 3. Harry Newman, 5. Ryan Hall, 18. Jake Connor, 6. Brodie Croft, 8. Mikolaj Oledzki, 14. Jarrod O’Connor, 17. Cooper Jenkins, 12. James McDonnell, 28. Kallum Watkins, 10. Keenan Palasia

Subs: 19. Tom Holroyd, 15. Sam Lisone, 11. James Bentley, 13. Cameron Smith (CC) (18^th Man – 20. Jack Sinfield)

Tries: Lisone (46), Miller (68)

Goals: Connor 3/3