Peter Smith's Leeds Rhinos player ratings from 24-12 win at Bradford Bulls

Leeds weren’t great, but on the back of a five-day turnaround, against fired-up opponents, it was a good victory ahead of next weekend’s Betfred Challenge Cup break. There were some strong performances from Leeds, full-back Lachie Miller and substitute Cameron Smith in particular and they got better as the game went on after trailing 8-6 at half-time.

Leeds had a lot of pressure in the first 40, but managed just one try. Bulls defended well, were more clinical with limited opportunities and deserved their lead. However, once Rhinos regained the advantage soon after the interval the result wasn’t really in doubt.

Bulls scored a couple of very well-taken long-range tries and Ash Handley’s touchdown for Leeds was a beauty. Rhinos shot themselves in the foot after 12 minutes when a loose pass gave the ball away in good field position, then Maika Sivo - who failed to get on the scoresheet for only the second time in his Leeds career - was penalised for an alleged high shot on Leon Ruan. On the last tackle of the resulting set, Rowan Milnes grubbed over the line and Waqa Blake touched down. Blake went off injured soon afterwards which was a loss for Bulls.

Milnes hit a post with his kick and went on to miss a penalty – when Leeds led 6-4 – as well as the conversions following Bulls’ other two tries. If he’s brought his kicking boots it could have been a nervier evening for Rhinos.

Midway through the first half, Jake Connor landed a huge 40-20 and Rhinos laid siege to Bulls’ line with three successive penalties, a six-again, another set off a spilled interception and a drop out. Remarkably, Bulls held out, but after failing to get anything from all that time on the hosts’ line, Leeds scored soon afterwards from a set which bgan deep in their own territory.

Miller began it with a terrific clearing run and on the final play James McDonnell grubbered behind the line, more in hope than expectation, Bulls fumbled and the second-row touched down for a try which Connor improved. Bulls went ahead on the final play of the half with a spectacular try, begun when Connor Wynne collected Miller’s kick near his own line. Caleb Aekins broke through Leeds’ defence and Wynne was in support to dash over.

Leeds needed a good start to the second half and got it, Jack Bird running a nice line on to a lovely pass from Brodie Croft, though Connor couldn’t convert. The next try was Rhinos’ highlight. Smith put Handley into a gap and the skipper stormed towards the line, cut infield, when Bulls were expecting a pass to Sivo and managed to stretch over after being pulled down just short. Connor added the extras to open an eight-point gap, then booted a penalty after a high shot on Croft.

Cooper Jenkins put the game beyond doubt when he smashed his way over for a converted try with 10 minutes left. Aekins hit back for Bulls with a brilliant long-range score and Miller had a late touchdown ruled out on video review, for an obstruction

A crowd of 14,991 watched the sides’ first Super League meeting for 4,264 days. Bulls received six penalties to Rhinos’ five (four-four in the first half). The set-restarts went five-three to Leeds.

Bradford Bulls: Aekins, Wynne, Marsters, Blake, Ryan, Atkin, Milnes, Sutton , Ackers, Lewis, Ruan, Fulton, Mellor. Subs Ormonroyd, Steinwede, Hallas, Souter.

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

Referee: Liam Moore (Wigan). Attendance: 14,991.