Super League: Leeds Rhinos hold off Wakefield fightback to reclaim third spot after Rob Burrow tributes

Leeds withstood a stirring comeback from neighbours Wakefield to clinch a dramatic 22-18 Betfred Tremendous League win at Headingley.

Two second-half tries from Max Jowitt noticed the guests threaten to haul again a 16-point half-time deficit and the ultimate hooter got here as a welcome reduction for Brad Arthur’s males.

Fourteen first-half factors from Jake Connor seemed to have the Rhinos residence and dry at half-time earlier than the lack of Lachlan Miller by way of damage virtually price them pricey. Leeds misplaced their form and really practically the match, as Wakefield piled the stress on the hosts’ groaning defence because the seconds ticked down.

The ultimate hooter confirmed a fourth straight win that strikes Leeds again to 3rd within the desk, and a becoming finale to the Rhinos’ annual MND consciousness sport in tribute to Rob Burrow, who died a yr in the past this week.

How Leeds held on to residence victory

There was little signal of the turmoil to return in a routine first half, which noticed Leeds open the scoring inside 10 minutes when Connor served up a cute up-and-under and Harry Newman out-jumped Jowitt earlier than dropping over the road.

Connor doubled the Rhinos’ lead after crashing by way of a weak Wakefield rear-guard halfway by way of the primary interval, however Wakefield responded virtually instantly when Lachlan Walmsley went over for his or her opener.

Riley Lumb restored Leeds’ two-score lead and two late Connor penalties left Arthur’s males in management on the half-time hooter with a 22-6 benefit, just for the departure of the limping Miller triggered Leeds to lose form.

Wakefield saved the sport alive on 50 minutes when Jowitt scurried onto the tip of his personal deflected kick, earlier than his second conversion diminished the deficit to 22-12, then scored once more simply previous the hour mark after bursting clear off a neat inside go from Corey Corridor.

Jowitt matched Connor’s 14-point haul to shunt Daryl Powell’s males inside 4, whereas Leeds’ trigger was not helped two minutes from time when – beneath rising Wakefield stress – James Bentley was sin-binned for a excessive deal with on Jay Pitts.

With Leeds trying distinctly unwell relaxed, Wakefield piled on the stress, peppering Connor with excessive balls from the boot of Mason Lino, however the hosts nearly survived to increase their profitable run.

Arthur praises Rhinos’ want after slender win

Leeds head coach Brad Arthur mentioned: “We had been excellent within the first half after which we had some enforced adjustments for the second half, and we did not handle the sport in addition to we had. Credit score to them [Wakefield] – they’d loads of battle.

“We discovered one other strategy to win, which was good, and what I did study is there may be a lot beneath the bonnet on this crew. The need and the will is there.”

Wakefield head coach Daryl Powell: “I simply thought we had been fairly poor within the first half, Leeds got here with a good bit of intent and I do not suppose we matched that. Within the second half we did the easy issues and that bought us a little bit of ascendency.

“I believed we had been by far the higher crew within the second half. We might have simply received that sport however we could not fairly recover from the road. However I am fairly happy with the braveness that we confirmed. The crew is doing an ideal job on the minute and we’re not going away.”