By Charlie O'Brien

Leeds Rhinos marked MND Awareness Day with a vital victory against Wakefield Trinity in another Headingley nailbiter, holding off a second half assault from the visitors to move third in the Betfred Super League.

First-half Tries for Harry Newman, Jake Connor and Riley Lumb were enough to secure victory despite Wakefield managing twelve unanswered points in a tense second forty.
Brad Arthur made two changes to the side which dispatched fellow West Yorkshire rivals Castleford last time out. James Bentley and Keenan Palasia returned to the starting lineup, with Cooper Jenkins dropping to the bench and Morgan Gannon named as 18th man.

The atmosphere was spectacular ahead of kick off, with the whole stadium rising to mark one year since the passing of Rhinos legend, the inspirational Rob Burrow. Once play began, however, things became much more tense as the expectant crowd nervously observed displays of steadfast defence from both sides.

The first opportunity fell to the Rhinos after seven minutes, but an attempted break down the right-hand side was halted brilliantly by a try saving interception from winger Tom Johnstone from a Lachie Miller pass. The signs were promising, however, as the game opened up in the home side’s favour.

In the very next attack, a brilliant looping kick from Jake Connor took advantage of a gap in the Wakefield defence as Seth Nikotemo received treatment in back play. The punt dropped into the direction of Harry Newman who was able to pluck the ball out of the sky and go over in one swift motion. Connor, retaining kicking duty from last weekend, made no mistake from close range.

In a free-flowing game with few stoppages, Leeds tested the Wakefield back line, almost breaking through on the halfway line. Later, a quality interception from Josh Rourke stopped another potential Leeds try after a well-directed grubber kick from Brodie Croft.

Leeds’ pressure eventually told, however. After having Wakefield pinned back for an extended period, it took only a drop of the shoulder from player of the half Connor, stepping past the defence just right of the posts for a brilliant individual try. He converted his own kick from close range to leave Leeds two full scores ahead.

Wakefield, who had played their part in a high-quality opening to the match, responded in the perfect manner with a try just two minutes after the replay. Swift play down the right saw Mason Lino find Corey Hall who looped the ball over his man and into the path of Lachlan Walmsley to go over in the right corner. A speedy video review found no reason to chalk off the try, and full-back Max Jowitt expertly converted a tough kick from wide right to half the deficit.

It was an important punch landed by Trinity, but it was not able to affect the direction of play as Leeds tired Wakefield with strong manipulation of the ball. This gameplan contributed to another try for the hosts as an extended spell of possession in the Wakefield half paid dividends. Miller, strafing left, eventually offloaded to Ash Handley, who released Riley Lumb to place the ball down on the left-hand side. From the kick, Connor snuck the ball in via the right post.

Wakefield, enjoying a much better season following promotion than many had expected, acquitted themselves well, but their weary legs and depleted squad began to show late in the first half, conceding two penalties in the last five minutes of play. Both kicking opportunities were gleefully gobbled up by Connor, the second kick particularly impressive. A forty-metre boot from inside right found its way between the posts convincingly as the hooter wailed out to leave the score 22-6 at the interval.

On this day of celebration and remembrance for Leeds, fans dared to dream of a fourth consecutive win and a return to third place in the league, heights not reached by the club since the 2020 season. Wakefield, chasing a fourth victory in a row of their own, were keen to ensure that the second half was not the procession that it might have become.

Leeds came out without the influential Lachie Miller and looked somewhat disorganised in the opening salvo. After ten second half minutes, a well-executed move from Trinity saw a smart exchange between Vangana, Hood, Rourke and Cozza before Jowitt dropped a deft kick through three Leeds defenders, popping up on the other side of the crowd to finish the job himself. Jowitt then added the conversion to his effort, managing a tough chance wide right to continue a perfect kicking game for both sides.

With fifteen minutes remaining, the Trin cut the gap further with a brilliant try. A smart interchange down the right-hand side found Corey Hall in space who released Jowitt to sprint through uncontested from twenty metres for his second try of the match, arcing his run towards the posts to give himself a simple kick, which he duly converted.

Leeds, who were unable to replicate their stellar first half performance after their enforced reshuffle, were forced to hang on for the remainder of the contest. With just a few minutes remaining, James Bentley was sent to the bin for the remainder of the action for a late challenge and tensions inside Headingley rose even further.

A Ryan Hall interception looked to have bought Leeds enough time to see the game out, but play was brought back for a knock on. With fifteen seconds left, Trinity found space out right but had to watch the ball bobble over the line as the hooter sounded and the South Stand erupted. In the end, Leeds were able to back up an inspired first half with impassioned second half defence against a Wakefield onslaught, to cling on to a crucial victory that the Mighty Atom would be proud of.

Teams

Rhinos
1. Lachie Miller, 23. Riley Lumb, 4. Ash Handley, 3. Harry Newman, 5. Ryan Hall, 6. Brodie Croft, 18. Jake Connor, 8. Mikolaj Oledzki, 14. Jarred O’Connor, 10. Keenan Palasia, 12. James McDonnell, 11. James Bentley, 28. Kallum Watkins
Subs: 15. Sam Lisone, 17. Cooper Jenkins, 19. Tom Holroyd, 13. Cameron Smith
Tries: Newman, Connor, Lumb
Goals: Connor (3)
Penalties: Connor (2)

Wakefield Trinity
23. Josh Rourke, 5. Tom Johnstone, 18. Oliver Pratt, 4. Corey Hall, 2. Lachlan Walmsley, 1. Max Jowitt, 20. Mason Lind, 8. Mike McMeeken, 9. Liam Hood, 31. Caius Faatili, 11. Seth Nikotemo, 12. Josh Griffin, 13. Jay Pitts
Subs: 18. Isaiah Vagana, 28. Harvey Smith, 21. Mathieu Cozza, 3. Cameron Scott
Tries: Walmsley, Jowitt (2)
Goals: Jowitt (3)