Lots of 5s, couple of 8s in Peter Smith's Leeds Rhinos player ratings from Cup loss at Wakefield Trinity

Apart from a spell in the second quarter when they scored a couple of tries and looked capable of going on with the game, Rhinos were second-best to a good Trinity side who had excellent performers in Tom Johnstone and Jack Sinfield and who comprehensively won the battle in the pack. Maika Sivo scored two more tries - that’s now 11 in four games - for Leeds, but made several errors and that was typical of the team.

Wakefield committed far fewer mistakes and took smart options at the right times, particularly on the final play of the first half when they slashed the visitors’ eight-point lead to just two. Rhinos didn’t score after the interval and probably wouldn’t have done if they were still playing now.

To add to their woes, young stand-off George Brown - who made his second successive start in place of the injured Brodie Croft - went off hurt midway through the second half. A few minutes later Harry Newman was sin-binned for pulling back Seth Nikotemo. Wakefield were in front by that stage, but added their fourth and final try against 12 men.

The game was delayed for 25 minutes by a floodlight failure early in the first half and Rhinos were immediately put under huge pressure when the action resumed. Trinity had a long spell in possession through a penalty, set-restart, scrum after Sivo knocked on trying to intercept Jake Trueman’s pass and a drop out. Lachie Miller, who had a good game for Leeds, held up Sinfield over the line and Rhinos defended spiritedly until the final tackle of the fifth set, when Harvey Smith went over from acting-half and Sinfield tagged on the two.

Sivo got Leeds on the board at the end of the opening quarter. A Trinity knock-on and six-again allowed Rhinos to build an attacking position, Jake Connor and Miller moved the ball left and the winger finished powerfully from Ash Handley’s pass.

Handley went from provider to scorer seven minutes before the interval, slicing through for a well taken try after Brown, Connor and Miller had handled. With Wakefield expecting the pass to Sivo, the centre cut inside and Connor added the extras.

Leeds grabbed another a couple of minutes before half-time. After a good run by Miller, Connor put up a kick which the defence allowed to bounce and Sivo juggled before touching down. The conversion attempt hit a post and Trinity - for the second successive game - scored a vital try after the hooter through Oliver Pratt to get back in it.

Sinfield, playing with more confidence than during his time at Leeds, put in an excellent kick to Johnstone and he turned the ball inside to Pratt who went over unopposed to complete a brilliant touchdown which Sinfield goaled. Trinity hit the front 11 minutes after the restart when substitute Matty Storton stretched over with his first touch after an outstanding run by Johnstone.

Sinfield added the extras, but missed with a penalty after Newman’s yellow card. As the errors mounted Leeds, unable to build sustained pressure, never threatened to pull the game from the fire and Ky Rodwell sealed it for the hosts with a close-range try which Sinfield improved, soon after Danny Levi had been penalised for a high shot on Pratt.

It was Wakefield’s first Cup victory against Leeds since 1942 and Rhinos still haven’t beaten a top-flight side in the competition since they won it in 2020. The 10 penalties were shared and Leeds received three six-agains to Wakefield’s one, watched by a decent Cup crowd of 7,136.

Wakefield Trinity: Rourke, Myers, Scott, Pratt, Johnstone, Trueman, Sinfield, McMeeken, H Smith, Rodwell, Nikotemo, Vagana, Tevaga. Subs Storton, Pitts, Hamlin-Uele, Faatili.

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

Referee: Jack Smith (Wigan). Attendance: 7,136.