Leeds Rhinos 34 Hull KR 8

Leeds Rhinos tightened their grip on the top of the Betfred Super League table as two tries from Maika Sivo headlined an outstanding 34-8 performance against Hull KR at AMT Headingley.

With only the boot of Jake Connor and Rhyse Martin separating the sides after 30 minutes, crucial tries from Chris Hankinson and Sivo ensured the Rhinos took a lead into the break, before Connor, Handley and a second from Sivo brought home a fifth straight win.

With a chance to extend their lead at the top of the table, Brad Arthur made one change to his side as Tom Holroyd returned to action for the first time since the defeat to Wigan. The prop was included on the bench, whilst the remainder of the Rhinos squad was exactly the same as the one that took down Warrington eight days before.

As is traditional with the past MND Awareness games, the tone was set early doors with a great pre-match show celebrating club legend Rob Burrow and the fundraising work of Kevin Sinfield. Including tifo artwork displayed from the North Stand, and a Nessun Dorma rendition from Operaman and Rob’s former team mates in attendance, it set the stage for a truly fantastic night in front of the biggest home crowd since 2020.

With the drama of Vegas still fresh in the mind four months on, none were surprised by a cagey start as both sides came into the game in red-hot form. Leeds’ confidence almost proved their downfall when a lively break saw a mis-pass from Keenan Palasia be swept up by Tom Amone to start a counter for Hull KR. The chance saw the Robins come close to taking the lead as a wide move found Noah Booth in space, but good slide defence from Ryan Hall and Harry Newman caught up to the winger before the try line.

A penalty goal by Jake Connor after Tevita Pangai Jr was penalised for contact with Connor’s face in the tackle gave the Rhinos the early lead, but Rhyse Martin was able to equalise with a similar penalty against James McDonnell on Mikey Lewis. Despite leaving potential tries out on the field as wide moves towards Sivo came up short, another chance for Connor to kick for goal was taken after Chris Hankinson was taken out trying to chase up a kick ahead. Slicing the uprights in half, the Rhinos led 4-2 after 28 minutes.

The match needed a gamebreaker to open it up, and finally it was the home side that found the crucial try to get themselves on the board before the break. A miraculous jump from Connor intercepted a kick for the sidelines from Lewis as the Rhinos reignited their attack, and after good drives from Ash Handley and Mikolaj Oledzki, Connor grubber kicked ahead for Hankinson to pounce on it and score a try in his fifth consecutive Leeds game.

No sooner had they found one try, the Rhinos got a comfortable 16 points ahead as Sivo inevitably continued his scoring streak. Set up by a great break led by Holroyd and Hankinson to get downfield, the Rhinos showed composure to move to Sivo’s edge and the Fijian wasn’t going to be stopped from short range. After adding the conversion, Connor opted to take one last shot at goal right at the end of the half. Continual penalties from Hull KR caught up with the visitors and with Rhyse Martin subsequently sent to the sin bin by referee Chris Kendall, Connor slotted one last goal to send the teams into half-time with the Rhinos 18-2 up.

The Robins’ problems trickled into the second half immediately as the half began. A deep Lachie Miller restart bounced over the head of Jack Broadbent to get Leeds on the front foot, and after Danny Levi thought he had stolen a score out of dummy half, the next play saw Hull KR not deal with a kick from Connor, and quick hands from Cameron Smith and Ash Handley put Sivo over for try 29 of 2026.

With a scoreline at a blowout 24-2, Arthur’s side were cruising towards yet another emphatic victory as they were unfazed by Hull KR’s attacking shapes. Ironically, it was ill-discipline that made the difference against the Rhinos as back-to-back penalties led to Noah Booth diving over for a consolation score just shy of the hour mark, but the home fans were quickly back on their feet. The Robins were clearing their try line, but a forced handling error from Jai Whitbread put the ball into the grasp of Connor, who had the easy job of coasting to the try line for his first try of 2026.

Lewis had a try chalked off as the half back collected a loose ball to touch down under the posts, but there was a clear knock on by Tyrone May as he took the ball out of Lachie Miller’s grasp. Whereas tries were struggling to go next to the Robins’ name on the scoreboard, Leeds continued to rack up the points – Handley finishing a quick handling move from Connor and Hankinson to get through Tom Davies to score.

Mikolaj Oledzki couldn’t believe his luck as a rampaging run from the prop saw him find the line, only for video referee Jack Smith to disallow the try for an obstruction in the build up. Smith was also clearly held up as the Robins weathered a final storm as the Rhinos took away a 34-8 full time result.

Teams

Rhinos

1. Lachie Miller 2. Maika Sivo, 4. Ash Handley (C), 3. Harry Newman, 5. Ryan Hall, 6. Brodie Croft, 7. Jake Connor, 8. Mikolaj Oledzki, 23. Danny Levi, 13. Keenan Palasia, 14. Chris Hankinson, 12. James McDonnell, 11. Kallum Watkins

Subs: 9. Jarrod O’Connor, 10. Tom Holroyd, 15. Cooper Jenkins, 17. Cameron Smith (18th Man – 26. Tom Nicholson-Watton)

Tries: Hankinson (31), Sivo (37, 44), Connor (60), Handley (71)

Goals: Connor 7/7, Miller 0/1

Hull KR

14. Jack Broadbent, 2. Tom Davies, 3. Peta Hiku, 4. Oliver Gildart, 21. Noah Booth, 6. Mikey Lewis, 7. Tyrone May, 11. Dean Hadley, 19. Karl Lawton, 10. Tom Amone, 16. Jai Whitbread, 12. James Batchelor, 13. Elliot Minchella

Subs: 17. Rhyse Martin, 20. Jordan Dezaria, 22. Bill Leyland, 35. Tevita Pangai Jr (18^th Man: 34. Ryan Hampshire)

Tries: Booth (52)

Goals: Martin 2/2

Sin Bins: Rhyse Martin (39 – Professional Foul)