Peter Smith's Leeds Rhinos player ratings from 36-34 defeat at Castleford Tigers

Leeds led 20-4 just before the half hour and 30-16 soon after the interval, but Tigers refused to lie down and the visitors couldn’t see the game out. The 36-34 result ended Rhinos’ seven-match winning run and means their lead at the top of Betfred Super League is down to two points. They also lost another play for their next match when Chris Hankinson failed a head injury assessment late on.

Leeds were good with ball in hand for most of it, scoring seven tries to six, but Jake Connor managed only three goals from eight attempts. Cas’ 36 was the most points scored against Leeds since a 38-0 loss to Wigan Warriors in September, 2024.

The key incident came just before half-time when Rhinos hooker Danny Levi was knocked out. It was a worrying situation and the game was delayed for more than 10 minutes as the Aussie was treated on the field. He was eventually taken on a stretcher to the changing room and then transported to hospital in Wakefield.

That clearly had an impact on Leeds and they conceded two tries in the final five minutes of the opening period - including one a couple of tackles after play resumed - to go in only four points ahead. With Jarrod O’Connor missing the game because of concussion, Leeds brought on prop Tom Nicholson-Watton at acting-half in his first senior game since Super League round one, which also had a bearing.

Nicholson-Watton did okay, but was in the side to play at prop. The half-time break gave Rhinos a chance to reset and they scored twice in the opening six minutes of the second period, but Cas had more in the tank and again came storming back and their win felt inevitable in the final quarter.

A pulsating encounter played in front of a noisy 9,296 crowd began so well for the visitors. Inside two minutes Rhinos’ halves ran the ball on the last and James McDonnell skipped out of a tackle to go over. Connor couldn’t convert, but Mikaele Ravalawa spilled the same player’s kick under pressure from Maika Sivo at the end of the next set and in the resulting attack Connor took the two after Tigers were caught offside in front of their posts.

It was eight minutes before Tigers had a set in possession and Leeds were 12-0 up four later. Lachie Miller caught the hosts out with a quick tap, McDonnell was again involved as the ball was moved wide and Alfie Edgell gathered off the ground to go over. Connor tagged on a touchline conversion.

It was 16-0 after 14 minutes. McDonnell charged down a kick by Daejarn Asi and did remarkably well to pick up and flick the ball to Brodie Croft who raced away from inside Leeds’ half. Ravalawa’s strong finish at the corner got Cas on the board after Tom Weaver and Phoenix Laulu-Togaga’e combined nicely.

There was no goal, but that was Tom Weaver’s only miss and his kicking from the tee was the difference. At the end of the next set Weaver’s high kick was taken by Sivo. The Fijian winger has faced some - unwarranted - flack this year for his tries coming mainly from close-range. On this occasion he caught the ball near Rhinos’ line and ran straight over the top of everything in front of him on an irresistible charge to the other end.

When play resumed after Levi’s injury Tigers had the ball a few metres out - though it initially appeared to be Leeds’possession - and Asi’s pass sent Ashton Golding over through a distracted defence. Cas scored again on the final play of the half when Jason Qareqare powered past Edgell from Alex Mellor’s pass.

The tide seemed to turn at the start of the second period. Connor did well to get a pass out to Tom Holroyd who proved too strong close to the line, Connor converting and in the next set McDonnell grabbed his second off Croft’s pass after Jack Bird had handled, but it was all Cas after that.

They hit back when Asi powered over and - after Edgell had a touchdown ruled out for a forward pass - Jack Ashworth went through a huge gap. Qareware thought he had scored, but it was ruled out by video official James Vella. However, Cas received a penalty instead which Weaver goaled to level the scores.

Qareqare did get over to edge the hosts ahead and Weaver landed his sixth kick. Though Croft scored his second try, Connor missed with his touchline conversion attempt and Castleford hung on for a famous win.

Tigers received six penalties to Leeds’ four (three-three in the first half). The set restarts were five-four in the hosts’ favour.

Castleford Tigers: Laulu-Togaga’e, Ravalawa, Valemei, Mellor, Qareqare, Asi, Weaver, Lawler, Hood, Dupree, Golding, Brown, Stimson. Subs Atoni, Ashworth, Hall, Robb.

Leeds Rhinos: Miller, Edgell, Newman, Bird, Sivo, Croft, Connor, Oledzki, Levi, Jenkins, Hankinson, McDonnell, Smith. Subs Watkins, Holroyd, Cassell, Nicholson-Watton.

Referee: Liam Rush (Dewsbury/Batley). Attendance: 9,296.