Try-scoring sensations, adding insult to injury and video ref frustration: latest Leeds Rhinos talking points

They had to dig deep to extend their winning run, overcoming three sin-binnings en-route to a 40-22 defeat of Wakefield Trinity which made it 142 points scored in Leeds’ past three matches. The derby was marred by a lengthy stoppage following an injury to Trinity’s Cameron Scott and Rhinos coach Brad Arthur afterwards described it as the “longest game in history”. Here’s five talking points.

1: Try, try, try - again. Between them, Rhinos’ Maika Sivo and Brodie Croft have scored more tries so far this season than two Betfred Super League clubs. Their tally of 30 is three ahead of Castleford Tigers’ total after 10 rounds, two up on Toulouse Olympique and level with Hull FC and Huddersfield Giants.

Sivo’s hat-trick against Wakefield, the fourth time he has scored three or more tries in a game for Leeds, took him to 17 in Super League - and he has another two in the Challenge Cup. Given his record in the NRL of 104 touchdowns from 115 appearances that’s no surprise, but Croft has been a revelation and has actually out-scored the winger seven tries to five in the past trio of matches.

Croft’s previous best in a single campaign was eight for Leeds two years ago. The former Melbourne Storm and Brisbane Broncos stand-off scored 15 in 63 NRL games, 12 during 55 appearances with Salford Red Devils and before this season was on 15 in 51 matches as a Rhinos player.

Danny McGuire holds the record for most tries scored by a Rhinos man in a summer era campaign, with 39 in 2004. The record in a Super League season is Denny Solomona’s 40 (plus two in the Challenge Cup) for Castleford Tigers 10 years ago.

2: Bearing witness. Croft is out of contract at the end of this season and has yet to make a decision on his future. He has made no secret of the fact he’d like to return to the NRL at some stage and his form this season will have been noted by clubs Down Under.

Perth Bears’ chairman Ben Norton is in this country at the moment and was at AMT Headingley last Friday, presumably to watch Rhinos’ James McDonnell and Mikolaj Oledzki who will both join the new Aussie outfit next term. He also attended Goole Vikings’ Championship meeting with London Broncos, whose Luke Smith and Emarly Bitungane have signed for Perth.

3: Insult to injury. Rugby league is an incredibly tough game and players sometimes get badly hurt. The incident in which Trinity’s Cameron Scott was knocked cold trying to tackle a rampaging Keenan Palasia was frightening. Medical staff from both clubs treated the stricken player during an 11-minute stoppage. He was taken to hospital for a scan, but - thankfully - cleared of major damage.

It was good to see the match officials, both sets of players and most of the crowd applaud as he was taken off the field on a stretcher. It was only a small number, but the Rhinos fans who initially mocked the injury with chants of ‘he’s had enough’ should be embarrassed. Please, do better next time.

To add insult to injury, the RFL’s match review panel decided Scott was at fault and as well as a severe headache, he collected a grade B head contact charge, three disciplinary points and a fine.

4: Speed it up. The game is secondary when things like Scott’s injury happen. The medics rightly took all the time they needed, but even with that long delay, an 80-minute game which kick-offs at 8pm shouldn’t be finishing at 10.15pm.

There were numerous lengthy video reviews during Friday’s game, for possible foul play, captain’s challenges and ‘no try’ on-field calls. Something has to be done to speed those things up because they are making Super League difficult to watch. At least the late kick-offs, which marred top-flight games in recent seasons, appear to be a thing of the past, which is one positive.

5: Ancient history. The derby against Wakefield was the first time in 28 years Rhinos have had three players sin-binned in the same game. The previous time it happened - and thanks to Andrew Dalton for the stat - was on April 26, 1998 in a famous 26-6 win at Bradford Bulls. Graham Holroyd, Richie Blackmore and Francis Cummins were the trio banished to the naughty step on that occasion.

Rhinos have had five yellow cards in their 12 competitive games this year, last weekend’s three plus Harry Newman at Leigh Leopards and against Trinity in the Cup. Leigh’s Matt Davis - in the same incident as Newman - is the only opposition player to receive a card so far this term.