A late try from Scott Taylor broke Leeds' hearts at Headingley as the Rhinos fell to a 22-18 defeat.

The match was largely an arm wrestle, with the second half in particular seeing both sides go in front, including when David Fusitu'a touched down for the home side with ten minutes to go.

Rhinos head coach Rohan Smith gave centre Nene Macdonald his first Super League and Rhinos start in the match following his off-season move from Leigh Leopards. The Papua New Guinea international started alongside David Fusitu'a in the only change to the back line. In the forwards the only change saw Sam Lisone drop to the bench in place of Cameron Smith, who started at loose forward. Former Rhinos Liam Sutcliffe and Brad Dwyer were named by Tony Smith for the visitors.

For their first game of 2023 on the terraces, the Rhinos fans didn't disappoint as they were in full voice. On the pitch, the players started brightly too, especially when Smith fended off four Hull tacklers to make an inspired half break. Macdonald also came close, but let an enticing grubber kick from Sezer run away from him into touch.

Against the run of play, the black and whites got the opening score of the game on 13 minutes. Fusitu'a lost the ball whilst challenging Adam Swift in the air, and an offside penalty put Hull on the Leeds try line. New signing Jake Clifford delivered the fatal blow, throwing a cut out pass for Cameron Scott to evade Handley's challenge and score.

Brushing off the early try, Leeds hit back through Cameron Smith. Another opportunity had been brewing as the home side came close, but with no cigar. The Rhinos didn't panic, and off the back of a break by Fusitu'a, Leeming fired a pass for Smith to barrel his way over, despite Joe Lovodua's best effort.

Tetevano came close from a poor restart went into touch from Hull, but Tony Smith's side were quickly back on the front foot, thanks to former Rhino Liam Sutcliffe. The introduction of props Kane Evans and Chris Satae, along with the Rhinos losing Morgan Gannon for a failed HIA, caused a problem for the Leeds defence, especially when Satae found a hole to break through. As the prop followed his run up with an offload, Leeds were caught short defensively, allowing Sutcliffe to poke his nose through and score.

Evans tried to get a try of his own, only for the video referee to spot that the forward had lost the ball under pressure of Lisone. Hull kept the pressure on, but the home side were thankful to force Swift out of play to get the ball back with minutes remaining. Aidan Sezer tried to get the Rhinos one last chance with a 40/20, but time wasn't on the side of Rohan Smith's side, who went into the break four points adrift.

 

The arm wrestle continued into the second half as both sides shared early chances Macdonald made a great break round the edge of the Hull line but was unfortunate to lose the ball before a head high tackle on Myler as the full back took an inside ball from Austin got Leeds close again but the chance went begging.

The momentum turned on a dime as Leeds went from almost kicking a 40/20 to conceding a try at the other end. Griffin's break through the heart of the defence caught the Rhinos napping and with Swift on his shoulder, the winger was just out of Macdonald's reach as he went over for his third try of the season.

Smith had kept a joker up his sleeve in Justin Sangare, who made a lightning quick start off the bench in his home debut. After penalties had begun to mount up for Hull, the prop was a key component as he took Austin's short pass and offloaded inside for Leeming to score a great try.

Headingley became a cauldron as the Rhinos fans found their voice, especially when Cam Smith and Ash Handley both made seperare breaks, only for Austin and Myler to both drop the ball for tries that could have been game winners.

Finally Leeds' moment came through Fusitu'a, who got Headingley roaring with his last gasp finish. Helped downfield by a penalty and a half break by Olpherts, Leeds found themselves closing in on the try line. After Jarrod O'Connor and Tom Holroyd were both held up, Sezer spotted a great pass for Tongan international Fusitu'a, who stepped back inside the challenge of Sutcliffe and Swift to dot the ball down.

Martin's conversion put Leeds ahead by two but it was soon the Western Terrace that was jumping. A short restart was won by the black and whites, who went in search of a response through Satae. As the forward was brought down short of the line, Brad Dwyer's pass out of dummy half for Taylor saw the prop twist out of Smith's tackle to bundle over the whitewash to seal a 22-18 win for Hull.