In one of the most hectic games of Super League this season, Leeds Rhinos came back from 14-6 down to beat Hull KR 28-20 at Sewell Group Craven Park and claim a fourth consecutive win in the league.

Rohan Smith was forced into changes off the back of the Salford win. David Fusitu'a, Aidan Sezer and Rhyse Martin all dropped out with bans, while James Bentley was also ruled out through injury. In their places, Liam Tindall came back into the squad for the first time since the win over Catalans, Bodene Thompson and Brad Dwyer moved into the starting lineup as opposed to the bench, and Cam Smith rotated back into the halves with Richie Myler. On the bench, Corey Johnson and Blake Austin were reintroduced, joining Muizz Mustapha and Sam Walters.

Leeds started the game shakily and were punished by former player Matt Parcell after only three minutes. Ash Handley was penalised for incorrectly playing the ball by the referee, putting Hull KR within ten metres of the Rhinos' try line, and off the back of a drive from Kane Linnett, Parcell managed to squeeze between Zane Tetevano and Brad Dwyer to plant the ball down.

Before the clock struck ten minutes, Leeds were two tries behind. Hull KR had suffocated Leeds by having three consecutive sets near the Rhinos' line and despite their resolve, their defence eventually broke; Litten dabbing a kick in behind for Ryan Hall to touch down, despite the efforts of youngster Liam Tindall.

The visitors needed a spark and Brad Dwyer stepped into the light to kickstart Leeds back into life. A penalty on Liam Sutcliffe was a relief for the Rhinos, who hadn't had a proper attacking opportunity in the game at all, and off the back of quick play of the ball by Mikolaj Oledzki, Dwyer darted out of acting half before beating full back Ethan Ryan to score a fantastic solo effort.

Hull KR refused to lie down and added a third try of the evening as Kane Linnett latched onto another kick into the in goal, although it looked on the replay as if he had lost the ball on the way to the ground. Unfazed, Leeds managed to turn the tables and lead the match, courtesy of two tries from Richie Myler. Back to back penalties against Hull KR proved the undoing of Danny McGuire's side as Leeds marched downfield and as Austin moved the ball left, the half back threw a risky pass that put Myler clean through to score a much needed try for Smith's side.

Minutes later, the half back grabbed a second of the evening off more good, creative play. Austin was the beneficiary again as the Rhinos kept the ball alive and the half back broke free. Earning a set restart as Hall got a hand on Austin's pass, Leeds were in full flow and with Dwyer again going out of dummy half, the hooker produced a nice pass for Myler to scoot over for his second. Hardaker didn't miss a kick in the first period as both sides went into the break with the score at 18-14 in favour of the visitors.

 

Coming out for the second half, both sides were two players down, the Rhinos losing Cam Smith and Bodene Thompson, while Shaun Kenny-Dowall and Greg Richards both exited the field for the Robins in the first 40 minutes. Nevertheless the new half started where the first half left off, with both teams proving to be feisty in defence and relentless going forward.

Leeds didn't look to have lost their rhythm and got the early break through with youngster Morgan Gannon. More ill-discipline put Hull KR on the backfoot and a nice expansive play was kickstarted by Newman. The centre found Oledzki after cutting back infield and the prop fired a pass a half back would have been proud of to find Gannon, who ran a great line before straightening up to touch down in front of the Leeds crowd.

Newman tried his luck in a similar effort to Gannon, off the back of a break by Tetevano before another play to the right saw Hardaker get the ball over the top for Tindall to stroll over but the pass was ruled forward. The game never seemed to be over for KR and they were given a lifeline when Oledzki was sin binned for committing a third consecutive penalty on the bounce. Although they were in scoring range, the Robins failed to grasp their chance as Litten's kick was retrieved by Newman, who exited the field with a hamstring injury shortly afterwards.

While they were down to twelve, Austin and Myler took control by kicking the ball over the sidelines on the last to show some great game management but as soon as Oledzki was back, it was time for the Rhinos to seal the result. An error from a desperate Sam Wood coming forward proved to be the downfall for the home side as Gannon was there to pick up the ball and run 60 metres to score and celebrate with the travelling fans.

Wood grabbed what proved to be a consolation effort with ten minutes remaining but the result was never in doubt, the Rhinos starting the party back to Headingley while also opening the gap up to three points over the Robins in the league table.