The Brad Arthur revolution at Leeds Rhinos is in full swing with the announcement of a number of end of season departures during the week and in round twenty-five they looked to keep alive their slender hopes of a top six finish with a home game against 2024 strugglers, Hull FC who themselves were looking for the win to avoid the ignominy of wooden spoon.
The bookies could only see one winner with the Rhinos named as massive favourites and a decent Headingley crowd were in attendance with the belief that this would be a chance to improve the all-important points difference column and jump inside the top six for the first time in 2024 with two games of the regular season remaining.
A seventh minute Rhyse Martin penalty opened the Rhinos avalanche of points and three minutes later a mad scramble to keep the ball alive saw a Brodie Croft cross-field kick collected by the Rhinos only England call-up Harry Newman to stride over the line and score in the corner. Martin hitting the mark with the conversion.
It took until the twenty-second minute for the Rhinos to extend their lead through an intricate passing move down the centre of the field, Mikolaj Oledzki the provider of the final pass to a charging Cameron Smith who grounded under the sticks with an easy conversion for Martin for 14-0.
A passing move from right to left saw young Alfie Edgell get his first try of the evening as the Rhinos looked in unstoppable form. Martin was again on target, Leeds with a 20-0 lead.
Jed Cartwright was sin-binned on twenty-seven after a late hit on Croft, adding to Hull’s woes and three minutes later James Bentley found an acre of space to go through the gap and dive in and with Martin adding the extras the game was already won for Leeds with no hopes of any kind of Hull fightback.
Two minutes before the interval, Lachlan Miller was the provider to Croft as he became the Rhinos fifth try scorer of the half, hitting a gap and speed and going over from five metres out. Martin hit the mark again, now six from six for the night and giving the Rhinos a 32-0 lead at the break.
Two minutes after the restart the ball was moved through fast hands to the left for Edgell to get his second and once again Martin converted from close to the touchline.
A forty-eighth minute penalty brought up the Rhinos forty and eight minutes later Edgell completed his hat-trick, his first for the Rhinos, as he was again in acres of space down the ledt to score in the corner. Another martin goal made it 46-0.
The only bright spot on the day for the travelling support came on fifty-three when Harvey Barron got on the end of a pinpoint kick to the corner, Jack Charles adding the conversion for 6-46, but while the Rhinos were easing off the gas they were far from finished.
It took three minutes for Edgell to take a Newman pass and go in for his fourth try of the game, the Leeds stand-in winger having a party. Martin continued his impeccable night with the boot to kick his tenth goal of the game.
On the hour mark Martin added another penalty after a high tackle to keep the scoreboard ticking over and a minute later Frawley and Croft combined, the Rhinos stand-off sliding over the line for his second of the night, also converted by Martin.
Another Martin penalty on seventy-six and a minute later Cartwright was sin-binned for a second time for holding down in the tackle, from the resulting penalty Bentley crashed over the line for his second try of the night and after Donaldson added a conversion on his last performance at Headingley, the Rhinos had secured a massive 68-6 victory.
Leeds fans left the stadium wearing broad smiles but wondering where this kind of performance had been for the rest of a mostly disappointing season, but then they weren’t playing a woeful Hull FC at home every week. The Rhinos have made it into the top six for the first time in 2024 but have two daunting games against the top two sides in Wigan and Hull KR in the last two rounds to make the likelihood of them making the top six in a couple of weeks’ time incredibly unlikely. For now they will enjoy the win and begin preparations for round twenty-six and a trip to The Brick.
Leeds Rhinos: Miller, Fusitu’a, Momirovski, Newman (T), Edgell (4T), Croft (2T), Frawley, Oledzki, Ackers, Sangare, McDonnell, Martin (13/13 G), Smith (T). Subs: Lisone, Bentley (2T), O’Connor, Donaldson (1/1 G). 18th Man: Nicholson-Watton.
Hull FC: Moy, Martin, Briscoe, Tuimavave, Barron (T), Charles (1/1 G), Walker, Ese’ese, Lane, Eseh, Sao, Cartwright (SB on 27 and 78), Aydin. Subs: Balmforth, Ashworth, Fash, Jebson. 18th Man: Laidlaw.
Half-Time: 32-0.
Full-Time: 68-6.
Score Progression: 2-0, 6-0, 8-0, 12-0, 14-0, 18-0, 20-0, (SB), 24-0, 26-0, 30-0, 32-0 :HT: 36-0, 38-0, 40-0, 44-0, 46-0, 46-4, 46-6, 50-6, 52-6, 54-6, 58-6, 60-6, 62-6, (SB), 66-6, 68-6 :FT.
Lead Exchanges: Leeds.
Referee: Tom Grant.
