Leeds Rhinos suffered a frustrating 35-18 defeat to Wakefield Trinity on their return to Emerald Headingley with two tries apiece for Tom Briscoe and Ash Handley proving not enough for Dave Furner's side.

The Rhinos got off to a perfect start when they Konrad Hurrell got his side going forward with a rampaging run in midfield. Leeds kept the ball alive and eventually Ash Handley was put over in the corner as quick hands created an overlap to put the winger over in the corner. Lolohea was unable to add the conversion but Leeds had an early 4-0 lead.

However, Wakefield responded with a flurry of points as England winger Tom Johnstone crossed for a hat trick inside ten minutes. A flowing move put Johnstone over in the corner after 13 minutes before Leeds handed Wakefield another chance to attack their line when the restart was put out on the full. The set ended with Johnstone being awarded his second try by video referee James Child.

Johnstone then completed his hat trick by timing his run to perfection to collect the kick on the full ahead of Tom Briscoe to score. Brough converted two of the three tries to give his side a 16-4 lead after 24 minutes.

From the re-start Wakefield allowed the ball to bounce dead and Leeds made the most of some possession in the Trinity half when Tom Briscoe went over despite claims for obstruction in the build up. Lolohea added the conversion from the Main Stand touchline to cut the gap to 16-10 with 14 minutes to go until half time.

However, crucially it was Wakefield who scored the next try. Wakefield had a spell of pressure on the Leeds line and Ryan Hampshire went close before being hauled down illegally. Trinity kept their cool and eventually Kyle Wood went over from dummy half. Danny Brough added the conversion to give his side a 22-10 lead at half time.

Wakefield extended their lead at the start of the second half when Danny Brough kicked a penalty after Myler was penalised for a block when Miller kicked ahead on the last tackle.

Leeds were denied good opportunities soon after. Myler had his kick blocked on the last tackle but referee Kendall said the ball had not been played at and Leeds were forced to rush into a quick on the last tackle having back peddled to collect the loose ball. Then Cameron Smith was denied a try by video referee James Child, who over turned the on field decision after spotting an obstruction in the build up to the score. Finally, after Wakefield had kicked out on the full, Konrad Hurrell took a the ball from a quick 20 metre tap before bursting through up field. Wakefield forward Craig Kopczak appeared to give himself up when the referee blew his whistle following a messy ruck but it was the Rhinos who were left frustrated when Matt Parcell was pulled up for a knock on as Hurrell’s boot caught the ball as it rolled back.

Wakefield made the most of those let offs and put the game to bed with a clinical display of finishing. Firstly Jacob Miller managed to evade the defenders to touch down and then Brough slotted over a drop goal to give his side a 29-10 lead with 17 minutes to play.

Chris Chester’s team wrapped up the points when Reece Lyne put Ben Jones-Bishop away and he found Brough in support to go over for the try. He converted his own try to give the visitors an unassailable 35-10 lead.

The Rhinos did rally late on with Ash Handley and Tom Briscoe both crossing for their second tries of the game whilst their side was reduced to 12 men with Trent Merrin in the sin bin but it could not compensate for a difficult night for the Rhinos on their return to Emerald Headingley.