From 5-9/10: Peter Smith's Leeds Rhinos player ratings from 22-4 win v Castleford Tigers

Sivo stormed over for a genuine hat-trick - three successive touchdowns - to take his tally to nine in just three games. There were boos and chants of ‘Sivo’ from the South Stand when Cameron Smith was named man of the match in Leeds’ 22-4 victory.

That was tough on Smith, who had a fine game, but Sivo is already attaining cult status. Rhinos had to dig deep to see off Tigers who trailed only 10-4 at half-time and had a real dig, but - with some key men on their injury list - didn’t have the quality to break the hosts down.

With Brodie Croft ruled out, Rhinos coach Brad Arthur had the faith to select 19-year-old George Brown at stand-off and that was rewarded as he scored the opening try and made a vital tackle early in the second half in a confident display.

Leeds looked a bit weary after their Las Vegas exertions, but did a professional job. They scored out of the blue after 11 minutes. Jake Connor kicked high to his left and the ball went backwards off either Sivo or Mikaele Ravalawa. Ash Handley scooped it up and passed to Keenan Palasia and he sent Brown swooping over. Referee James Vella indicated no try, but was overruled by video assistant Marcus Griffiths. Connor converted, but Tigers responded quickly following an error by Palasia.

George Hirst snatched the ball to turn defence into attack and Ravalawa finished powerfully from Darnell McIntosh’s pass. Eleven minutes before half-time Brown’s low kick and tackle forced a drop out which Tom Weaver didn’t send 10 metres. Following the tap in front of the posts, Rhinos moved the ball left and Lachie Miller’s pass found Sivo who went straight over the top of Ravalawa.

Rhinos got over the line again just before the break, through Cameron Smith, but referee Vella reckoned he had knocked on as Jordan Lane and Ashton Golding held him up and this time Griffiths agreed. Six minutes into the second half Leeds scored another try from a Connor kick on the last when there didn’t seem to be much on.

Miller, who had a good game, managed to tap the ball to Kallum Watkins and his long pass gave Sivo a walk in. That was probably the first of his eight tries, up to then, a normal player might have scored. Connor tagged on the two.

Brown made a terrific try-saving tackle on Hirst soon afterwards, the on-loan prop knocking on before the ball went to Zac Cini. He touched down, but Vella said ‘no try’ and Griffiths agreed after one look. That was an escape, but Leeds went three scores ahead moments later, on 53 minutes, when Sivo completed a genuine hat-trick.

Miller and Connor handled across the line and Chris Hankinson, who had replaced Ash Handley late in the first half, did really well to get the ball to his winger. Connor booted another touchline goal to make it 22-4.

Castleford received seven penalties to Leeds’ six in front of 15,301. Tigers were unchanged from the previous week’s win against Huddersfield Giants. Leeds made a late change when James McDonnell withdrew on the morning of the game with a back injury, so Ethan O’Neill started and Jeremiah O’Neill came into the 17 on the bench.

Leeds Rhinos: Miller, Sivo, Newman, Handley, Hall, G Brown, Connor, Jenkins, Levi, Palasia, Watkins, O’Neill, Smith. Subs O’Connor, Holroyd, Hankinson, Mata’utia.

Castleford Tigers: Cini, Ravalawa, McIntosh, Mapapalangi, Qareqare, Asi, Weaver, Atoni, Hood, Westerman, Lane, Hirst, Stimson. Subs Lawler, Ashworth, S Hall, Golding.

Referee: James Vella (Sydney). Attendance: 15,301.