Betfred Super League
Sat 15th Jun 2024 KO: 15:00 RD: 14
Attend: 12166 OFFICIAL: Liam James MOORE

Hull FC
18 10
HT: 12-0

Leeds Rhinos
Tries
Lewis Martin
Denive Balmforth
Cameron Scott
Ash Handley
Harry Newman
Goals
Ben Reynolds x3
Rhyse Martin
-
Full Back
1
Logan
Moy
-
Right Wing
2
Tom
Briscoe
-
Right Centre
3
Carlos
Tuimavave
-
Left Centre
4
Liam
Sutcliffe
-
Left Wing
5
Lewis
MARTIN
-
Stand Off
6
Jacob
Trueman
-
Scrum Half
7
Ben
Reynolds
-
Prop
8
Herman
Ese'ese
-
Hooker
9
Morgan
Smith
-
Prop
10
Ligi
Sao
-
Second Row
11
Jordan
Lane
-
Second Row
12
Cameron
Scott
TRIES
1 PTS
4 -
Loose Forward
13
Brad
Fash
-
Int 1
14
Denive
Balmforth
TRIES
1 PTS
4 -
Int 2
15
Tiaki
Chan
-
Int 3
16
Yusuf
Aydin
-
Int 4
17
Jack
Ashworth
-
Lachie
Miller
-
David
Fusitu'a
-
Harry
Newman
TRIES
1 PTS
4 -
Paul
Momirovski
-
Ash
Handley
TRIES
1 PTS
4 -
Brodie
Croft
-
Matt
Frawley
-
Mikolaj
Oledzki
-
Jarrod
O'Connor
-
Mickael
Goudemand
-
James
McDonnell
-
Rhyse
Martin
GOALS
1 PTS
2 -
Cameron
Smith
-
Corey
Johnson
-
Sam
Lisone
-
Tom
Holroyd
-
Justin
Sangare

Leeds Rhinos lost out to Hull FC in a disappointing 18-10 result at the MKM Stadium in Round 15 of the Betfred Super League; Ash Handley and Harry Newman scored the tries for the visitors deep in the second half.
Two changes to the Rhinos team saw David Fusitu’a and Tom Holroyd return into Rohan Smith’s side after their injury layoffs. Fusitu’a, who scored tries in his previous two meetings against Hull in 2022 and 2023, replaced Alfie Edgell on the wing as the only change to Leeds’ starting 13, whilst Holroyd was named onto the bench.
In the lead up to kick off, both clubs paid tribute to Leeds legend Rob Burrow CBE in the wake of his passing two weeks ago, as Leeds captain Cameron Smith and former Rhinos player Liam Sutcliffe, who was coached by Rob during his junior days, laid wreaths on the MKM turf.
The home side jumped straight into the attack in the opening stages of the game as a 40/20 from Ben Reynolds camped Hull on the Leeds try line. Jordan Lane looked to break the try line for the opening score but as Liam Moore sent the decision up for further review, Lane clearly lost the ball.
Leeds had the best chances of the half starting with Harry Newman trying a dab kick in behind the black and whites defence for Ash Handley, who looked to be taken out by a Hull defender chasing the kick down, before the Leeds winger tried to chase his own kick on the next attacking set, but Logan Moy was up to the task as he dispersed the Leeds attack. Brodie Croft also orchestrated what he thought was a try, but the video referee judged that the half back’s high kick on the last for Fusitu’a came forward into a Hull man before reach Croft, so another try was chalked off as the score remained 0-0 after 15 minutes.
The chances for points kept coming as Hull’s Lewis Martin was the latest player to have a try denied; Lane being called out of play as the forward attempted to keep the ball alive. Shortly after, a knock on by Leeds skipper Smith gave the Rhinos some more defending to do, but Hull proved their own worst enemy as Herman Ese’ese ran into Yusuf Aydin, obstructing the Leeds defence.
Heading into the final ten minutes still with no score for either side, the black and whites turned the tide of the half in the final moments, Martin going over in the corner off a ball over the top from Trueman. Hull substitute Denive Balmforth followed it up with a try of his own as the young hooker forced his way over from dummy half to make the score 12-0 at the break with Reynolds’ conversions.
Dissent against Paul Momirovski at the start of the second half led to Cameron Scott getting over for the black and whites; the forward taking an offload from Carlos Tuimavave to hit a hole and score to take the score to 18-0.
Much like in the first half though, Leeds had scoring opportunities, only this time Ash Handley managed to get points in the board for the visitors. Tiaki Chan’s introduction to the action saw the forward lose the wet ball as the rain continued, and the Rhinos were decisive as Frawley and Croft combined before Croft’s stabbed kick ahead bounced kindly for Handley to plant down.
Both sides were feeling the pressure as the game pressed on and as the rain cleared, conditions became more favourable for expansive rugby. Hull could have closed the game out as Trueman kicked the home side’s second 40/20 of the game, but Ese’ese and Brad Fash were both held up over the line. Balmforth came close too before a kick from Trueman caught James McDonnell offside, but nothing came of it as the Rhinos survived.
Leeds had the clock and scoreboard against them as the game approached its final stages, but the away side refused to give in. Oledzki’s inspired break led to Miller feeding Croft for what looked to be a certain try, but the half back was held up within inches of the line. Additionally, Tom Briscoe forced a knock on, seeing the former Leeds man go to the sin bin for the reminder of the game, but a knock on from Lisone on the next play agonisingly ended a huge chance.
Justin Sangare came on from the bench to make a similar half break too as the French international laid the foundations for a try for Harry Newman, who returned from a HIA check. Shifting the ball to the edge, a great offload from Handley got a lucky touch off Tuimavave and into the hands of Newman to finish with an aerial effort.
Martin got the conversion to make the score 18-10 and set up a tight last five minutes, but a break by Handley ended with a knock on by Oledzki, which gave Hull the two league points.
Next Up
The Rhinos return to AMT Headingley next Friday night for the club’s annual MND Awareness game against Leigh Leopards, where the club will pay tribute to the life and career of Rob Burrow CBE.
Match Facts
Hull FC
37. Logan Moy, 44. Tom Briscoe, 3. Carlos Tuimavave, 4. Liam Sutcliffe, 26. Lewis Martin, 6. Jake Trueman, 47. Ben Reynolds, 8. Herman Ese’ese, 19. Morgan Smith, 12. Ligi Sao, 15. Jordan Lane, 17. Cameron Scott, 13. Brad Fash
Subs: 16. Jack Ashworth, 45. Yusuf Aydin, 28. Denive Balmforth, 46. Tiaki Chan (18th Man – 23. Davy Litten)
Tries: Lewis (37), Balmforth (40), Scott (47)
Goals: Reynolds 3/3
Sin bin: Tom Briscoe (73) - Professional Foul.
Rhinos
1. Lachie Miller, 2. David Fusitu’a, 4. Paul Momirovski, 3. Harry Newman, 5. Ash Handley, 6. Brodie Croft, 7. Matt Frawley, 8. Mikolaj Oledzki, 14. Jarrod O’Connor, 18. Mickael Goudemand, 16. James McDonnell, 12. Rhyse Martin, 13. Cameron Smith
Subs: 10. Tom Holroyd, 15. Sam Lisone, 26. Corey Johnson, 17. Justin Sangare (18th Man – 29. Alfie Edgell)
Tries: Handley (58), Newman (77)
Goals: Martin 1/2
78 mins
GOAL
scored for by
Rhyse Martin
77 mins
TRY
Try scored for Leeds Rhinos by
Harry Newman
74 mins
INT
Interchange for Leeds Rhinos
Jarrod O'Connor OFF
74 mins
INT
Interchange for Leeds Rhinos
Sam Lisone OFF
71 mins
CARD
Yellow card for Hull FC
Tom Briscoe Sin Bin
60 mins
INT
Interchange for Leeds Rhinos
Justin Sangare OFF
56 mins
INT
Interchange for Leeds Rhinos
Harry Newman OFF
56 mins
INT
Interchange for Hull FC
Yusuf Aydin OFF
55 mins
GOAL
scored for by
Rhyse Martin
55 mins
TRY
Try scored for Leeds Rhinos by
Ash Handley
50 mins
INT
Interchange for Hull FC
Jack Ashworth OFF
50 mins
INT
Interchange for Hull FC
Ligi Sao OFF
46 mins
INT
Interchange for Leeds Rhinos
Tom Holroyd OFF
46 mins
INT
Interchange for Leeds Rhinos
Sam Lisone OFF
45 mins
GOAL
scored for by
Ben Reynolds
45 mins
TRY
Try scored for Hull FC by
Cameron Scott
40 mins
GOAL
scored for by
Ben Reynolds
39 mins
TRY
Try scored for Hull FC by
Denive Balmforth
38 mins
GOAL
scored for by
Ben Reynolds
37 mins
TRY
Try scored for Hull FC by
Lewis Martin
30 mins
INT
Interchange for Hull FC
Herman Ese'ese OFF
29 mins
INT
Interchange for Leeds Rhinos
Mikolaj Oledzki OFF
28 mins
INT
Interchange for Hull FC
Morgan Smith OFF
25 mins
INT
Interchange for Leeds Rhinos
Michael Goudemand OFF
20 mins
INT
Interchange for Hull FC
Brad Fash OFF