Peter Smith's Leeds Rhinos player ratings as 3 score 8/10 in one-point loss at Wakefield Trinity

The first half ended all square Leeds, hanging in after twice trailing by six points and spending 10 minutes a man down with Brodie Croft in the sin-bin. Unexpectedly, despite being on the back foot, Rhinos went ahead with 13 minutes left, but Trinity equalised soon afterwards and Lino’s kick won it seconds after Croft’s attempted one-pointer had drifted just wide.

It was Trinity’s second victory in three meetings with Leeds this year and there has been nothing between the sides, Wakefield winning by two points and one and Rhinos with a four-point margin. The decider was as tight as the scoreline suggests.

Both teams defended superbly in a physical contest, but Trinity had more and better chances. They probably should have been in front at half-time, did well to battle back after Leeds took their late lead and had the game’s outstanding performer in scrum-half Lino.

Rhinos rarely got forward, but took the two opportunities they did create. There is no doubting their spirit and commitment, but they made far too many errors, particularly in the second half and two injuries, to half-back Jake Connor and winger Alfie Edgell didn’t help.

Max Jowitt kicked Trinity ahead after 11 minutes. They received a six-again on the last and then took the two when Croft was sin-binned for tripping Lino. Trinity got another penalty from the restart, a second set-restart and Lachlan Walmsley went over - exploiting the extra man - after Jay Pitts, Jake Trueman and Jowitt had handled.

When Rhinos finally got the ball back, they received a six-again followed by a penalty in front of the posts. Usually, they’d have run it, but with a man off the field they sensibly opted to take the two through Connor, which got them on the board and ran down the clock on the yellow card.

On 27 minutes Trinity restored their six-point lead in similar fashion to their opening score, with a set-restart being followed by a penalty - for a high tackle by Connor on Harvey Smith. Jowitt landed his second goal, but Leeds were level at the break. Croft’s kick forced a drop out and from that Sam Lisone smashed his way over the line from acting-half O’Connor’s pass and Connor added the kick.

Connor went off after a head knock early in the second half, but Leeds edged ahead with 13 minutes left when O’Connor - displaying great strength and determination - somehow got the ball down from acting-half and substitute Jack Sinfield converted. That was his first two-pointer in senior rugby, but Trinity levelled five minutes later through Jowitt’s third goal following a strong finish from Matty Storton, off Lino’s flat pass.

Croft was just off target with a drop goal attempt in the final minute, but that gave Trinity a 20-metre tap and seven-tackle set and Lino used the extra play to win it in front of a capacity 9,252 - Wakefield’s biggest home crowd for more than a decade. The penalty count was five-three in Trinity’s favour (three-two inn the first half) and they received three set-restarts to Rhinos’ two.

Wakefield Trinity: Jowitt, Walmsley, C Hall, Pratt, Myers, Trueman, Lino, McMeeken, H Smith, Faatili, Griffin, Scott, Pitts. Subs Nikotemo, Atoni, Storton. Unused Rourke.

Leeds Rhinos: Miller, Edgell, Newman, Handley, Hall, Croft, Connor, Jenkins, O’Connor, Palasia, Bentley, McDonnell, Watkins. Subs Lisone, Sinfield, Cassell. Unused Littlewood.

Referee: Chris Kendall (Huddersfield). Attendance: 9,252.