A brilliant hat trick from Sam Lisone gave Leeds Rhinos an important 28-12 win over Hull FC at the MKM Stadium as the Rhinos kept up their fight for the Play Offs.

The Samoan international scored his first tries for the club across both halves, scoring two in the first and his final score rounding off the win. David Fusitu’a and Luke Hooley also got over the try line to seal the two points.

With injuries during the week to Aidan Sezer and Ash Handley, Jack Sinfield returned to the squad for his third appearance of the season. David Fusitu’a and James McDonnell both came in for Handley and James Bentley, who went off injured against Huddersfield, in the only other changes to the Rhinos side. 

Former Leeds player Liam Sutcliffe marked his 250th career appearance against his former side.

A shaky start by the young Rhinos side gave Hull early optimism. Having pressured the Leeds line, a wide move looked to be a certain score for the black and whites until Andre Savelio produced a poor pass that sailed over the sidelines.

Leeds reacted off the back of the pressure from the black and whites to get the opening try of the game. James McDonnell snuck through a hole in the Hull defence to put himself one on one with full back Jamie Shaul, and although the forward’s kick ahead looked to be going over the sidelines, Hooley chased hard to get there first and score a wonder try.

A break by Fusitu’a turned the tables on another Hull attack and shortly after, a late hit on Hooley off the ball saw Rhyse Martin opt to kick the penalty goal to take the score to 6-0 to the away side.

Hull grabbed their response as Adam Swift twisted over the line off the back of build up play from Clifford and Shaun Lane. Hull’s pressure persisted on the Leeds line but to no reward for the home side as they fell behind to two Sam Lisone tries.

Having only just come onto the field, Lisone was thrown into the action and found himself on the end of a pass from James Donaldson as the forward got over for his first try as a Rhino.

As the half expired, the forward was celebrating again as Leeds established an 18-4 lead at the break. Cam Scott couldn’t keep hold of Sinfield’s high kick and following the scrum, Lisone was on the end of a shift to the left as he took three defenders over the try line with him. Martin added the conversions for both tries to give the Rhinos a 14 point lead at the break.

The second half started with Leeds celebrating again as Scott Taylor lost the ball after taking the restart. Cam Smith reacted quickest to pick up the ball and feed Sinfield, but the youngster was held up. Newman, Roberts and Walters both had drives hauled too, before a quick play down the short side saw McDonnell produced a great offload for Fusitu’a to score acrobatically in the corner.

Although they looked on a roll, the Rhinos took a hit when the black and whites got back to back tries to close the score line. Harvey Barron finished in the corner to give Hull hope with time in the second half and Cam Scott reacted quickest to a deflected pass from Tex Hoy to close the score to 22-12 with 15 minutes remaining. 

Hull kept the pressure up on the Leeds line as the game approached its final ten minutes. After keeping Tony Smith’s side at bay from a full set of six, Hoy looked to have put Savelio through but the back rower couldn’t hold onto the ball.

The man of the match, Lisone, had the last day with his hat trick try. Newman’s dangerous cut back towards the centre of the field saw the centre managed to sneak an offload away for Martin. The PNG international had space ahead of him to make a half break, and Lisone was there in support to take the ball and celebrate in front of the travelling fans. Martin’s conversion sealed the 28-12 win, which gave Rohan Smith’s side their eleventh win of the year.

Hull FC

29. Jamie Shaul, 2. Adam Swift, 4. Liam Sutcliffe, 17. Cam Scott, 26. Harvey Barron, 14. Joe Lovodua, 7. Jake Clifford, 13. Brad Fash, 9. Danny Houghton, 30. Scott Taylor, 11. Andre Savelio, 12. Jordan Lane, 15. Joe Cator

Subs: 1. Tex Hoy, 10. Chris Satae, 20. Jack Brown, 33. Brad Dwyer (18th Man. Cobie Wainhouse)

Tries: Swift (18), Barron (49), Scott (58)

Goals: Clifford 0/2

Rhinos

21. Luke Hooley, 2. David Fusitu'a, 3. Harry Newman, 24. Luis Roberts, 16. Derrell Olpherts, 12. Rhyse Martin, 29. Jack Sinfield, 8. Mikolaj Oledzki, 14. Jarrod O'Connor, 18. Tom Holroyd, 19. James McDonnell, 22. Sam Walters, 13. Cameron Smith#

Subs: 15. Sam Lisone, 20. Morgan Gannon, 25. James Donaldson, 31. Leon Ruan (18th Man. Alfie Edgell)

Tries: Hooley (8), Lisone (28,36,71), Fusitu'a (42)

Goals: Martin 4/6