James McDonnell starred with four tries as Leeds Rhinos cruised to a 28-0 win over Salford Red Devils at the Salford Stadium in round seven of the Betfred Super League.

McDonnell was the sole try scorer in a tough first half for the away side, but quick work at the start of the second half for the Rhinos saw them get back to winning ways.

Coming into the game off the back of an extended break due to the Challenge Cup, the Rhinos made only one change from the side that lost out to Warrington in round six. Brodie Croft’s injury saw Matt Frawley step back up into the first team to partner Jake Connor, who has made an impressive start to 2025. Despite the mid-week announcement that Kallum Watkins was returning to the club, the former Leeds captain was made to wait a week for his Rhinos return as he watched this one from the stands.

The Rhinos were left frustrated in the opening half as Salford’s resolute defence kept them scoreless for 21 minutes.

Leeds played the first ten minutes with twelve men after Keenan Palasia was sin-binned on the opening play for contact with Chris Atkin’s head. The Red Devils got the chance to test themselves heading towards the Rhinos try line, but Kai Morgan’s kick on the last tackle was easily fielded by Ash Handley.

It was only a matter of time until the Rhinos made the breakthrough against a weakened Salford outfit and back-to-back chances could have seen Ryan Hall open the scoring. The winger kickstarted a Leeds attack after intercepting a wild offload from Atkin, but as the Rhinos progressed to the last tackle, Jake Connor’s dab kick in behind didn’t bounce kindly into the path of the winger. Another chance moments later saw Connor go to the air to try and put the England international over this time, but Jonny Vaughan and Ben Glover cleaned up for the Red Devils to keep the score at 0-0.

Salford had some inspired moments, but Leeds finally made the breakthrough on 21 minutes to get the first points of the night. Jayden Nikorima tried to sneak a pass to Josh Wagstaffe, but the ball flew over the sideline to gift the Rhinos possession. With thw wind in their sails, Connor stepped up for Leeds to weave his way past Morgan and Shane Wright before offloading to McDonnell for a straightforward opening try.

It was the only try of the half as chances for Arthur’s side came and went. Riley Lumb couldn’t benefit after Joe Shorrocks gave up the ball in a dangerous position as the half continued, and the winger could have pounced again when a risky pass from Atkin opened Salford up to a counter attack, only for Lumb to kick ahead into the arms of Wright instead of picking up the ball himself.

Frustrated by their opposition, a penalty for holding down Frawley in the tackle saw Leeds call for the kicking tee from the benchas the half time siren sounded. After Connor's miss earlier in the game, Lachie Miller stepped up to convert to make the half time score 6-0 to Leeds.

Putting the opening 40 minutes behind them, the Rhinos gave their travelling fans a lightning-fast start to the second half as McDonnell grabbed his second try inside a minute of the restart. Miller did well to evade the Salford defence as he scampered out to the right to release Harry Newman, who exchanged passes with Hall before putting McDonnell over.

The momentum was truly with the Rhinos, and McDonnell was the beneficiary as he sealed his first career hat trick. Finding themselves back in scoring range minutes after McDonnell’s second try, Connor dabbed a kick in behind, and the Leeds back rower was in the right place at the right time to get his third try of the game.

Flying high without any response from the Red Devils, who kept fighting for the full 80 minutes, Leeds were brought back down to earth momentarily with two errors before the hour mark. Mikolaj Oledzki was the second player to be sent to the sin bin as the prop was shown a yellow card for a high shot on Matty Foster, before Sam Lisone came under fire as he obstructed Morgan close to the try line. Referee Liam Rush handed the decision of a potential penalty try up to video referee Liam Moore, who ruled a try out to keep the Red Devils scoreless.

Brushing off the Salford pressure, the visitors looked to finish the contest as Harry Newman darted over from short range, but it was chalked off by the video referee for a double movement. On the other hand, Miller made sure his try counted as the full back chased onto Morgan Gannon’s kick to score under the posts. Converting his try, Miller took the score to 22-0 with 12 minutes to go.

Only one man could cap off the night for the Rhinos heading into the closing stages as McDonnell took his tally to four tries. Connor was the architect once again as he held the ball just long enough to tempt in Salford defenders and the half back fired a pass into the arms of the onrushing McDonnell to finish.

To the amazement of the fans behind the sticks, the Ireland international could have scored a fifth try after Sinfield’s break was supported by Newman, but the centre’s pass wide for McDonnell was called forward. Nevertheless, it was a night to remember for the second rower as the Rhinos moved provisionally into fifth place in the Betfred Super League table.

Teams

Red Devils

14. Chris Atkin, 40. Josh Wagstaffe, 17. Esan Marsters, 45. Jonny Vaughan, 47. Ben Glover, 6. Jayden Nikorima, 27. Kai Morgan, 18. Jack Ormondroyd, 9. Joe Mellor (C), 22. Matty Foster, 15. Shane Wright, 13. Joe Shorrocks, 24. Harvey Wilson

Subs: 21. Sam Davis, 19. Justin Sangare, 26. Jamie Pye, 43. George Hill (18^th Man – 41. Finley Yates)

Rhinos

1. Lachie Miller, 5. Ryan Hall, 3. Harry Newman, 4. Ash Handley (C), 23. Riley Lumb, 7. Matt Frawley, 18. Jake Connor, 8. Mikolaj Oledzki, 14. Jarrod O’Connor, 17. Cooper Jenkins, 11. James Bentley, 12. James McDonnell, 10. Keenan Palasia

Subs: 16. Morgan Gannon, 15. Sam Lisone, 20. Jack Sinfield, 19. Tom Holroyd (18^th Man – 22. Tom Nicholson-Watton

Tries: McDonnell (21, 41, 45, 75), Miller (67)

Goals: Connor 0/1, Miller 4/5

Sin Bin: Palasia (1 – Dangerous High Contact), Oledzki (55 – Dangerous High Contact)