9 score 8/10 in Peter Smith's Leeds Rhinos player ratings despite 20-14 loss to Hull KR

The visitors, who had trailed 14-6, snatched a 20-14 victory through two tries in the last seven minutes, but a cracking contest - watched by a crowd of 16,863 - was marred by some contentious officiating which left both sides aggrieved. Leeds have an unhappy history with referee Chris Kendall and – assisted by video official Liam Rush – he was at the centre of things in his first Rhinos appointment of 2025.

Jack Sinfield, selected at scrum-half in place of Matt Frawley, was sin-binned for a shoulder to the head of Hull KR full-back Arthur Mourgue after five minutes. With 17 left, the Robins’ Sauaso Sue saw red for a similar offence against Sam Lisone - and 10 later, Ash Handley was sent-off for the same thing, with Mourgue again the victim.

Neither red was warranted and no obvious damage was done in any of the tackles. Lisone went off for a head injury assessment, though he returned, but Mourgue played on both times. The Robins’ first try - ex-Leeds man Jack Broadbent getting over from Oliver Gildart’s pass - came against 11 men: Sinfield was in the sin-bin and Jake Connor had been shown a green card following treatment which led to play being stopped. Green cards are surely meant to limit players using injury as an excuse to slow down the game, not as punishment for a dislocated finger.

To his credit, Connor played on and was involved in both Rhinos’ tries. However, Ryan Hall went straight off after damaging an ankle seconds before Rovers’ opening score. Kallum Watkins came on at centre - and had a strong game - with Harry Newman moving to the right-wing.

Amid all the fuss over the two red cards, credit must go to table-toppers Hull KR for finding a way to win a game which appeared lost when they were eight points and a man down. They scored four tries to two, so will feel they deserved the win, but there wasn’t much in it. It was the second time in four games Leeds have lost after having a player carded late on. They couldn’t give much more, but obviously have to learn to deal better with such situations.

Their first try came three minutes into the second quarter. Lachie Miller’s long pass found Connor, he kicked early in the count and Handley ran through to touch down. Leeds led briefly when Miller took the two following a high tackle by Jez Litten on Connor, but Mourgue levelled in similar fashion following James Bentley’s foul on Mikey Lewis.

Rhinos’ second try, on 47 minutes, was world-class. Connor started it by sending Handley into space and he exchanged passes with Riley Lumb before returning the ball to the winger who scorched over at the corner. Miller converted from wide out and added the two after Sue’s harsh dismissal.

A second try for Broadbent gave the Robins hope and James Batchelor crossed in the set following Handley’s red card to level the scores. In the sequence from the restart, Mikey Lewis – who came up with flashes of brilliance when it reeally mattered, including a crucial 40-20 – scored a long-range try which Mourgue converted. A captain’s challenge by Leeds, claiming an obstruction in the build-up, was unsuccesful. Despite all the cards, there were only 10 penalties in the game, which were shared. The count was four-three to Rovers in the first half.

Leeds Rhinos: Miller, Hall, Newman, Handley, Lumb, Connor, Sinfield, Jenkins, O’Connor, Oledzki, McDonnell, Gannon, Palasia. Subs Holroyd, Lisone, Bentley, Watkins.

Hull KR: Mourgue, Hiku, Batchelor, Gildart, Broadbent, Lewis, May, Sue, Litten, Waera-Hargreaves, Handley, Tanginoa, Minchella. Subs Luckley, Whitbread, Brown, Leyland.

Referee: Chris Kendall (Huddersfield). Attendance: 16,863.