Leeds Rhinos bounced back from conceding two quick-fire tries in the first half to defeat Leigh Leopards 22-14 at Leigh Sports Village in Round 21 of the Betfred Super League.

Lachie Miller delivered a man-of-the-match performance, scoring a try and providing an assist in the win. Sam Lisone, James Bentley, and Brodie Croft also crossed the line to help the visitors secure two crucial league points in the race for the Play-Offs.

New signing Chris Hankinson came in on the wing for the Rhinos in the only change from the defeat to Wakefield Trinity last time out. Having only signed earlier in the week, head coach Brad Arthur showed confidence in the former Salford man by naming him in place of Alfie Edgell. Jake Connor, who left the field against Wakefield, was passed fit to face the Leopards, while Morgan Gannon returned for the first time since Round 15. Ash Handley featured at centre to make his 250th career appearance.

After the high-scoring 48-30 clash in Round 16 between the two clubs, there were no doubts about both sides’ attacking threats coming into the contest, and the Rhinos thought they had the perfect start with a try inside five minutes. Brodie Croft did well to chase Jake Connor’s kick ahead and looked to ground the ball, but the video referee overruled the on-field call, ruling that Croft hadn’t gained possession of the ball before grounding.

The Leopards, on the other hand, made sure their first opportunity counted after Jarrod O’Connor was forced back over his try line to concede a goal-line drop-out. With Leigh applying pressure on the Rhinos defence, Umyla Hanley managed to brush off the challenge of Ash Handley and evade Hankinson to score the first try of the contest.

The home side kept the pressure on with a second try in quick succession. Hankinson was forced into touch as Leigh’s aggressive kick chase muscled up to regain possession deep in Leeds territory, and Lachlan Lam, the league’s leading try assister, took full advantage by firing a pass into the clutches of Keanan Brand. Gareth O’Brien added the extras to take the score to 8-0 after 16 minutes.

Leeds were struggling to contain an energised Leopards pack, who continued to roll downfield in attack and pinned the Rhinos on their own try line when defending. But the boot of Connor turned the half around for the visitors. The halfback’s 40/20 kick gave the Rhinos a chance to attack the Leopards' line, and an impressive effort from Lachie Miller saw the fullback dance across the line and slice through to score an important try.

The try put wind in Leeds’ sails, and the introduction of Sam Lisone came at further cost to the home side. A penalty on Lisone’s introduction gave Leeds a promising opportunity, but Croft’s pass to Gannon came off the back-rower’s hands. With half-time looming, Lisone came to life, barrelling his way to the line and refusing to be stopped as he scored his sixth try of the Super League season. Connor added the conversion to give the away side an unlikely 10-8 lead at the break.

Arthur’s side opened the second half in the same vein as they ended the first, as James Bentley extended the visitors’ lead just minutes after the restart. Leigh put themselves on the back foot when Lam was penalised for a high tackle on Croft, and the Rhinos made sure to take full advantage. Connor’s chip kick was batted back by Harry Newman into the hands of Bentley, who had an easy finish for his second try of the year.

The Leopards mustered a response as Brand crossed for his second try of the game in the corner, courtesy of slick hands from McNamara and Lam to put the winger over with a straightforward finish.

With the scoreline narrowed to just two points, the game shifted from a pendulum into an intense arm-wrestle - Leigh pushing to reclaim the lead, while Leeds looked to bring the result home. Tesi Niu and Bailey Hodgson both came close for the home side, but strong defensive efforts denied the Tongan centre, and an obstruction on James McDonnell ruled out Hodgson’s effort. At the other end, a mistake from fullback Hodgson saw the ball fall to Gannon, who was cut down by Hanley at the last moment in what was the Rhinos’ best chance heading into the final ten minutes.

The drama hit fever pitch when Owen Trout stripped the ball from Miller to set Leigh up in attacking territory, but on the next play, Charnley couldn’t take Lam’s chip kick, spurning the Leopards’ final chance. Off the back of the error, Leeds worked their way downfield before Kallum Watkins produced a well-timed short pass to release Miller, who in turn found Croft to seal the two league points for the Rhinos. Connor slotted his third conversion of the game to move Leeds up to fourth place in the league standings.

Teams

Leopards

24. Bailey Hodgson, 18. Keanan Brand, 3. Tesi Niu, 4. Umyla Hanley, 5. Josh Charnley, 6. Gareth O’Brien, 7. Lachlan Lam, 8. Owen Trout, 9. Edwin Ipape, 32. Joe Ofahengaue, 11. Frankie Halton, 12. Jack Hughes, 13. Isaac Liu

Subs: 22. Ben McNamara, 10. Robbie Mulhern, 16. Matt Davis, 20. Ethan O’Neill (18^th Man – 15 Alec Tuitavake)

Tries: Hanley (11), Brand (15, 52)

Goals: O’Brien 2/3

Rhinos

1. Lachie Miller, 31. Chris Hankinson, 4. Ash Handley (CC), 3. Harry Newman, 5. Ryan Hall, 6. Brodie Croft, 18. Jake Connor, 10. Keenan Palasia, 14. Jarrod O’Connor, 17. Cooper Jenkins, 16. Morgan Gannon, 12. James McDonnell, 28. Kallum Watkins

Subs: 15. Sam Lisone, 9. Andy Ackers, 11. James Bentley,  29. Presley Cassell (18^th Man – 20. Jack Sinfield)

Tries: Miller (25), Lisone (35), Bentley (43), Croft (76)

Goals: Connor 3/4