Another 10/10 in Peter Smith's Leeds Rhinos player ratings as superb performance puts Hull KR to the sword

Jake Connor is playing better now than last year when he was Man of Steel. He scored a try, was involved in Leeds’ other four and kicked seven goals from seven attempts in a quite superb 34-8 defeat of the reigning Betfred Super League champions.

Connor took a knock in the build-up to the final try and went off, but was not believed to be badly hurt. He can only do his job if the forwards do theirs and Leeds’ pack - led by an inspired Mikolaj Oledzki- were magnificent.

It’s a long time since Rhinos had a pack as physical as the current one. The middles dominated their opposition - with Tom Holroyd making an eye-catching return from injury off the bench - and special mentions go to second-rowers Chris Hankinson, who scored for a fourth successive game and the criminally underrated James McDonnell.

Hull KR were missing some key players and lost another, Dean Hadley, to a concussion early on. They were right in the game for the opening 30 minutes, but mistakes and too much defence wore them down in sweltering conditions. Connor booted Rhinos ahead with an eighth-minute penalty after he had been fouled by Tevita Pangai Junior. Referee Chris Kendall put the incident on report.

Leeds had already had an escape when Noah Booth looked to be heading over at the corner, but he was tackled into touch by Ryan Hall. Rhinos old boy Rhyse Martin levelled quickly after McDonnell put a hand in Mikey Lewis’ face and Leeds’ first chance came through Maika Sivo, but Tyrone May and Pangai Jr did remarkably well to keep him out.

Connor’s second penalty goal nosed Rhinos back in front with 15 minutes remaining in the half and the number seven then came up with a remarkable play which swung the game in Rhinos’ favour as they built an 18-2 half-time lead.

A penalty should have put Rovers in a good attacking position, but Connor somehow managed to keep the ball in play and Leeds scored in the resulting set, the scrum-half’s kick being touched down by Hankinson, who played on after an earlier injury.

Then, Connor’s pass was deflected by a defender to Sivo who went in to equal Leeds’ Super League record of tries in nine successive matches. On the final play of the half, Martin was sin-binned for holding down Tom Holroyd and Connor booted the long-range penalty.

Four minutes after the resumption Leeds’ Danny Levi seemed to have scored from acting-half, but Kendall said no and video official Jack Smith agreed. That looked a tough call, but no matter; on the next play, the last, Connor’s kick was batted by Ash Handley to Cameron Smith, he fed Hankinson and the second-rower did really well to get the ball to Sivo who ducked past Peta Hiku for his 27th Betfred Super League try of the season.

Back-to-back penalties led to Booth pulling a try back for the Robins which Martin improved to give them a glimmer of hope with 23 minutes left, but it didn’t last long. Connor pounced on a Jai Whitbread error to dash over in the next set and then his improvised kick was finished by Handley. Connor went off and Lachie Miller’s touchline kick missed.

Oledzki was denied what would have been a glorious solo try by an obstruction ruling spotted on the video referee review. Cameron Smith was the third Leeds to have a possible touchdown ruled out late on, being ruled to have knocked on over the line.

Hull KR received eight penalties to Leeds’ seven. Rhinos had four set restarts and the visitors one. The crowd was Rhinos’ best home attendance since 2020.

Leeds Rhinos: Miller, Sivo, Newman, Handley, Hall, Croft, Connor, Oledzki, Levi, Palasia, Hankinson, McDonnell, Watkins. Subs Smith, O’Connor, Jenkins. Holroyd.

Hull KR: Broadbent, Davies, Hiku, Gildart, Booth, Lewis, May, Hadley, Lawton, Amone, Whitbread, Batchelor, Minchella. Subs Pangai Jr, Martin, Leyland, Dezaria.

Referee: Chris Kendall (Huddersfield). Attendance: 18,456.