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 Super League win at Headingley.

Two second-half tries from Max Jowitt saw the visitors threaten to haul back a 16-point half-time deficit and the final hooter came as a welcome relief for Brad Arthur’s men.

Fourteen first-half points from Jake Connor looked to have the Rhinos home and dry at half-time before the loss of Lachlan Miller through injury almost cost them dear. Leeds lost their shape and very nearly the match, as Wakefield piled the pressure on the hosts’ groaning defence as the seconds ticked down.

The final hooter confirmed a fourth straight win that moves Leeds back to third in the table, and a fitting finale to the Rhinos’ annual MND awareness game in tribute to Rob Burrow, who died a year ago this week.

How Leeds held on to home victory

There was little sign of the turmoil to come in a routine first half, which saw Leeds open the scoring within 10 minutes when Connor served up a cute up-and-under and Harry Newman out-jumped Jowitt before dropping over the line.

Connor doubled the Rhinos’ lead after crashing through a weak Wakefield rear-guard midway through the first period, but Wakefield responded almost immediately when Lachlan Walmsley went over for their opener.

Riley Lumb restored Leeds’ two-score lead and two late Connor penalties left Arthur’s men in control at the half-time hooter with a 22-6 advantage, only for the departure of the limping Miller caused Leeds to lose shape.

Wakefield kept the game alive on 50 minutes when Jowitt scurried onto the end of his own deflected kick, before his second conversion reduced the deficit to 22-12, then scored again just past the hour mark after bursting clear off a neat inside pass from Corey Hall.

Jowitt matched Connor’s 14-point haul to shunt Daryl Powell’s men within four, while Leeds’ cause was not helped two minutes from time when – under increasing Wakefield pressure – James Bentley was sin-binned for a high tackle on Jay Pitts.

With Leeds looking distinctly ill at ease, Wakefield piled on the pressure, peppering Connor with high balls from the boot of Mason Lino, but the hosts just about survived to extend their winning run.

Arthur praises Rhinos’ desire after narrow win

Leeds head coach Brad Arthur said: “We were very good in the first half and then we had some enforced changes for the second half, and we didn’t manage the game as well as we had. Credit to them [Wakefield] – they had plenty of fight.

“We learned another way to win, which was good, and what I did learn is there is plenty under the bonnet in this team. The want and the desire is there.”

Wakefield head coach Daryl Powell: “I just thought we were pretty poor in the first half, Leeds came with a fair bit of intent and I don’t think we matched that. In the second half we did the simple things and that got us a bit of ascendency.

“I thought we were by far the better team in the second half. We could have easily won that game but we couldn’t quite get over the line. But I’m pretty proud of the courage that we showed. The team is doing a great job at the minute and we’re not going away.”

Pryce double helps Hull FC thrash Catalans

Hull FC’s renaissance under coach John Cartwright continued with a dominant 34-0 win over Catalans Dragons in Perpignan.

Herman Ese’Ese ran over full-back Reimis Smith from short range to open the scoring after 10 minutes, with the visitors doubling their advantage when Davy Litten intercepted five yards from his own line and released winger Lewis Martin for an 80-metre sprint to the line.

The game paused when Dragons’ Matthieu Laguerre was visibly concussed in a tackle on Will Pryce, with the centre failing to return from a head injury assessment, before Pryce collected a high ball and rounded the entire home defence to score a sensational 60-metre try just before the break.

Hull restarted in the same dominant mood, forcing Catalans into a goal-line drop-out, then winning a captain’s challenge over a disputed knock-on with Martin going close and Davy Litten putting a foot in touch as he crossed in the left corner.

He made up for that slight error by scooting over to collect a Sezer kick and scoring in the 54th minute, Aidan Sezer converting for 22-0, before Pryce then scored his second stunning long-range strike.

Price broke through the Catalans defence on the left and racing unhindered 60 metres over the line. Tom Briscoe then added another try soon after, collecting from a clever break by Zak Hardaker, with Sezer tagging on the conversion to extend the winning margin.

What’s next?

The Super League season takes a week off for the Betfred Challenge Cup final, with Warrington Wolves facing Hull KR at Wembley Stadium on Saturday (3pm kick-off).

Week 14 of the Super League season begins on Friday June 13, with Hull KR hosting Catalans Dragons on Sky Sports Action (8pm) and Hull FC facing Castleford Tigers on Sky Sports+ (8pm).

Sky Sports will again show every game of Super League live this season – including two matches in each round exclusively live, with the remaining four matches each week shown on Sky Sports+ via the red button