From 5-9: Peter's Smith's Leeds Rhinos player ratings from 50-16 Magic Weekend win v Bradford Bulls

Leeds’ sixth successive victory, their best run since 2022, moved them four points clear at the top of Betfred Super League and Maika Sivo extended his try-scoring streak to 10 games, which is a club record in the competition. Leeds were good in patches, particularly in the first half, but never got into top gear against spirited, but limited, opponents.

Rather like in Toulouse last month, Leeds built a big half-time lead - 30-4 - and let the hosts back into it for a spell in the second period before pulling away again to win comfortably.

Centre/captain Ash Handley had a superb game, a try after the final hooter completing his hat-trick - and he could have scored another, but opted to hand his winger Sivo a touchdown instead.

Conceding three tries will give Leeds something to work on, but that’s not a bad thing and it’s hard to quibble after a half-century of points.Poor passes by Connor - twice - and Handley wasted some early pressure, but Leeds drew first blood after nine minutes when Brodie Croft ran on to Jarrod O’Connor’s perfect kick for his 17th try of the season.

Leeds doubled their advantage at the end of the first quarter when Chris Hankinson scored for the sixth successive game, the second-rower sidefooting the ball on from Connor’s kick and following up to touch down.

He had already had one ruled out, an on-field decision confirmed by the video official, for a knock-on by Handley from a Connor kick. Hankinson switched to the right-wing soon afterwards, when Ryan Hall limped off with a foot injury.

The third try came soon afterwards after Leeds turned down two points from a penalty in front of the posts and O’Connor nipped over from acting-half. Nine minutes before the break Leeds gave away a set-restart on the last and on the final play of the next set their defence clocked off allowing Caleb Aekins to go over.

The glimmer that gave Bulls was extinguished moments later when Croft put James McDonnell in for Leeds’ fourth try. Sivo caught Chris Atkin’s restart with a foot over the line and in the set from the penalty Handley sliced through some poor defence for his 150th career try.

Kallum Watkins’ pass was finished in style by Handley three minutes after the interval, but Ethan Ryan scored back-to-back tries, both converted by Luke Hooley to make it 34-16. It wasn’t exactly nervy, but Leeds were wobbling for a spell before a wonderful pass by Handley put Connor over.

Handley had a clear run to the line but opted to pass to Sivo and Hankinson had a touchdown ruled out, for a foot in touch, before on the final play of the game Connor kicked between the posts and Handley ran through to score his third. Connor landed his seventh goal. The penalty count was eight-five in Leeds’ favour. Rhinos received nine set-restarts to Bulls’ two.

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

Bradford Bulls: Aekins, Wynne, Armitage, Blake, Ryan, Nikorima, Atkin, Doro, Ackers, Sutton, Ruan, Peopsi, Mellor. Subs Souter, Ormondroyd, Scurr, Hooley.

Referee: Tom Grant (Leeds).