Leeds Rhinos’ winning run in the Betfred Super League extended to five games as Brad Arthur overcame a stubborn Wakefield Trinity outfit 40-22  at AMT Headingley thanks to a fourth hat trick of the season for star winger Maika Sivo.

Sivo’s two first half tries and penalty goals either side of half time from Jake Connor proved the difference as the Rhinos fended off a resilient Trinity outfit – especially in a second half that saw the Rhinos play the majority with twelve players. A brace from Croft plus Sivo’s crowning try got the Rhinos over the line as the side head into a break in the schedule next week.

Brad Arthur named an unchanged lineup for the visit of Trinity as the Leeds head coach stuck with the same 17-man squad that took away a convincing win over Catalans Dragons a week prior. Top try scorers Sivo and Croft were both included, whilst a strong bench of Jarrod O’Connor, Tom Holroyd, Cooper Jenkins and Cameron Smith were all retained.

Having lost out to Trinity in March during the Betfred Challenge Cup campaign, Leeds knew points could come at a premium as Lachie Miller kicked off the newest chapter in the all-Yorkshire rivalry. Much like the Dragons match, an error within minutes of the kick-off by Wakefield instantly handed the Rhinos a chance for points, which Danny Levi almost took with a burrowing run from dummy half. Although the hooker couldn’t find his way over the try line, a penalty off the back of Jake Connor’s last tackle kick moments later saw Leeds scrum half opt to take the penalty goal on offer to give the home side a 2-0 lead after five minutes.

A long delay to proceedings followed as Cameron Scott was on the receiving end of heavy contact with Leeds’ Keenan Palasia. After the centre was stretched from the field under the care of both medical staffs, it didn’t take long for the home side to click into gear once again as Sivo extended his lead at the top of the league’s scoring charts. The winger had threatened with a half break that was closed down well by desperate Wakefield defence, but a poor offload by Tyson Smoothy was pounced on by Palasia and prompted Leeds to switch from defence into attack. A quick move wide saw Handley fire the crucial flick pass out for his winger partner to barrel his way over in the corner.

Minutes later, the Rhinos were two tries ahead as they started to take a grip of affairs. Despite Brodie Croft exiting the field momentarily for a HIA check, his replacement in Cameron Smith wasted no time in getting into the action as he broke clean through to set up another attack. Buoyed by a further set restart, the home side only needed one play as Connor’s short pass caught Kallum Watkins coming back against the grain as the back rower planted the ball down under the posts to make the score 14-0

Trinity were able to make a scoring chance count when Jake Trueman’s pass over the top found Will Tate in space, before an offload back inside was collected by Oli Pratt for a Wakefield response. It proved only a blip as a well-won penalty from Jack Bird inspired a second Sivo score. Although the Leeds play had shifted out to the right, a basketball pass from McDonnell found Connor, who quickly changed the direction of attack to connect with Miller. Spotting Wakefield’s defence was short on numbers, the full back’s pass for Sivo was on the money as he bagged a brace in the corner.

There was one last raise before the break though as Trinity set up a tense start to the second period. Sivo’s high hit on Josh Rourke was penalised as the winger was sent to the sin bin by Chris Kendall, and Wakefield took full advantage as Tray Lolesio forced his way through Smith and Holroyd to get the ball down – sending the teams into the break with Leeds leading by eight points.

After the Rhinos had started the second period with a penalty goal from the boot of Connor, Wakefield were handed their best chance to get back into the game as they enjoyed a strong ten-minute period. Tate’s kick ahead of Rourke saw the Wakefield full back taken out by Leeds skipper Handley, who was shown a yellow card to take Leeds down to 11 players. Instantly trying to catch the Rhinos short on numbers, Tate was unlucky not to force his way over in the corner before a quick switch to the opposite side of the field saw Jayden Myers touch down.

With the lead cut to four points, even after Lino’s missed conversion, Leeds were fortunate to get back on the scoreboard. Trueman’s fifth tackle kick struggled to find length as it fell short of the halfway line, and with Wakefield in disarray, Connor swooped on the loose ball before releasing Croft away for the half back to touch down for an opportunistic effort.

The game continued to ebb and flow as the result was far from decided on the hour mark. Smith’s attempt to squirm out of Trinity’s defence came to no reward as the Leeds forward was judged to be held up by video referee Tom Grant. Immediatley pushing downfield, Myer’s second try of the night had Rhinos fans on the edge of their seats as the score ticked to 28-22 after Lino’s missed conversion.

Calm was soon restored when good work from Hankinson flicked a pass out wide for Sivo to mark his hat trick try and his 19^th of the current campaign. A third penalty goal from Connor too off the back of a ball steal on Oledzki finally gave the home side breathing room as they looked to cruise home with a 34-22 advantage.

Even despite a late sin binning for Leeds’ Jack Bird for delaying a 20 metre tap for Wakefield, the Rhinos crowned their result in style; Croft connecting onto a grubber kick from O’Connor to put the final nail in the coffin as a 40-22 triumph was confirmed.

Teams

Rhinos

1. Lachie Miller, 2. Maika Sivo, 4. Ash Handley (C), 33. Jack Bird, 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 – 20. Presley Cassell)

Tries: Sivo (14, 32,67), Watkins (19), Croft (53, 77)

Goals: Connor 8/9

Sin Bin: Sivo (38 - Dangerous hit), Handley (50 - Professional Foul), Bird (76 – Delaying Restart)

Trinity

23. Josh Rourke, 2. Oli Pratt, 3. Cameron Scott, 4. Corey Hall, 21. Jayden Myers, 6. Jake Trueman, 7. Mason Lino, 8. Mike McMeeken, 9. Tyson Smoothy, 15. Caleb Hamlin-Uele, 12. Matty Storton, 14. Jay Pitts, 10. Ky Rodwell

Subs: 16. Caius Faatili, 17. Harvey Smith, 24. Tray Lolesio, 32. Will Tate (18^th Man: 20. Jack Sinfield)

Tries: Pratt (26) Lolesio (39), Myers (49, 63)

Goals: Lino 3/4