It was a tough afternoon for Leeds Rhinos as they kicked off their preparations for the 2021 Super League season with a 22-18 defeat against Huddersfield Giants at the John Smith’s Stadium.

With under two weeks until the new season kicks off at Emerald Headingley, it was a chance for both sides to show off their new signings and young talent. Due to injuries keeping the likes of Luke Gale, Rob Lui and Jack Walker on the sidelines, Rhinos head coach Richard Agar named a relatively young squad for the Giants clash. Jack Broadbent, Corey Hall and Sam Walters started in the pack, with the likes of Liam Tindall, Jarrod O’Connor and Levi Edwards on the bench, while Liam Sutcliffe and Richie Myler were named in the halves. New signing Zane Tetevano was ruled out prior to kick off but there was an appearance from Fijian international King Vuniyaywa.

Leeds started the game strongly, forcing the Giants into a goal line drop out on their first attacking set. After a short break in play due to an injury to Huddersfield’s Olly Ashall-Bott, the Rhinos worked the ball out to the left and great pass by Myler released Broadbent in space but the centre’s pass intended for Luke Briscoe went to ground.

Despite Leeds’ best efforts, the home side took the lead inside of ten minutes. Rolling downfield thanks to strong carries from James Gavet and new signing Josh Jones, on the fifth tackle, Lee Gaskell took advantage of an out of position Ash Handley and kicked back towards the post where he found the onrushing Aidan Sezer, who dotted the ball down by the posts. The half back converted his own try to give Huddersfield an early lead.

Ian Watson’s side kept pushing for points and try scorer Sezer was at the centre of the Giants’ best opportunities, forcing Tom Briscoe to take a chip kick in goal and then kicking cross field for Ricky Leutele, but both times Leeds’ defence held strong.

The Rhinos’ efforts were rewarded on 25 minutes as a handling error from Sezer resulted in a break away try for Jack Broadbent. Huddersfield were trying to pull the Rhinos wide but Sezer fumbled a pass from Michael Lawrence straight into the arms of Myler, who started to peel away. Realising he had Broadbent in support, the half back offloaded the ball to the centre who outpaced Jermaine McGillvary to the try line. Rhyse Martin pulled the conversion just wide.

🏃🏻‍♂️ Breakaway try from Jack Broadbent!

🦏 @LeedsRhinos are on the scoreboard…

Watch on #OURLEAGUE now 👉 https://t.co/3HOqAV8Fjj pic.twitter.com/UwhRibH1MW

— Rugby Football League (@TheRFL) March 14, 2021

As the game approached the half hour mark, there was an injury scare for Ash Handley, who was helped from the field after a tackle from Jake Wardle. The Rhinos were forced to restructure and the Giants took advantage, scoring two tries to give Ian Watson’s side a twelve point lead at the break. A wide move caught Corey Hall and Liam Tindall out as Darnell McIntosh finished off a sweeping move in the left corner before Jack Cogger closed out the half by picking off an offload from Cameron Smith to score under the posts. Sezer successfully converted the latter to make the half time score 16-4.

The Rhinos reeled the changes at the start of the second half, introducing Bodene Thompson, King Vuniyayawa and Brad Dwyer to the field of play, but the Giants continued where they left off. The home side forced Leeds to defend five sets on their own try line, with the best effort coming from Oliver Wilson but Broadbent, who had moved to cover for the injured Handley, made a great effort to stop the prop. Shortly after, Louis Senior took a cut out pass from Kenny Edwards to walk in the corner for Huddersfield’s fourth try of the afternoon. Oliver Russell took over the kicking duties and slotted his first from out wide to make the score 22-4.

Leeds needed a boost and Rhyse Martin came up trumps, making a one on one strip to turn Leeds’ defence into attack. Myler threaded a neat grubber kick into the in goal area and forced a repeat set but on the next set of six, James Donaldson couldn’t keep hold of a short pass that would have been a certain try.

The last 20 minutes saw the Rhinos dominate, closing the scoreline to within six points. The rain was making the ball hard to keep hold of and the Giants were the ones that paid the price, coughing up the ball before James Gavet was penalised for a late hit on Tom Briscoe. That much needed penalty helped Leeds near to the Giants try line and Leeds produced one of their best passing moves of the game, courtesy of Myler, Sutcliffe and Broadbent, to make sure Luke Briscoe went over in the corner. Minutes later, after the Giants were once again penalised by referee Ben Thaler, Myler connected up with Sutcliffe, who managed to wrestle his way to the try line and cut Huddersfield’s advantage.

👀 Liam Sutcliffe forces his way over and somehow plants the ball down!

🤔 A late @LeedsRhinos comeback?

Find out on #OURLEAGUE 👉 https://t.co/3HOqAV8Fjj pic.twitter.com/AeKpcdDtff

— Rugby Football League (@TheRFL) March 14, 2021

The final five minutes were nail biting for both fans watching from home. After losing out twice in the League last season by one point, the Giants looked like they’d thrown their lead again as Vuniyayawa looked all but certain to score, breaking through a gaping hole and just had the full back to beat but he was dragged down agonisingly short of the try line by Aiden McGowan. 17 year old substitute Morgan Gannon tried to go over but the Giants stood strong, holding on to win.