Leeds Rhinos 52 Huddersfield Giants 0

Nine tries and eight goals from the boot of Jake Connor helped Leeds Rhinos go back provisionally to the top of the Betfred Super League as they demolished Huddersfield Giants 52-0 at AMT Headingley.

A week on from their defeat at the hands of Wigan, the Rhinos found their try-scoring mojo as two scores apiece for Mikolaj Oledzki and Harry Newman led the try scoring along with leading scorers Maika Sivo and Brodie Croft, as well as Chris Hankinson, James McDonnell and Ryan Hall.

Leeds’ squad rotation was already known ahead of the fixture as head coach Brad Arthur confirmed both Fergus McCormack and Presley Cassell would be included in his matchday squad. McCormack replaced the suspended Lachie Miller as he made his Super League debut at full back, whilst Cassell – who was making his first senior appearance since round one – was included amongst Arthur’s bench options. A back injury to Tom Holroyd saw the prop replaced by Mikolaj Oledzki in the only other change from the defeat to Wigan.

Fans were made to wait for the game to begin after a crash on the M62 prompted kick off to be delayed for 15 minutes, but the Rhinos quickly settled into the fixture to score four unanswered tries in the first 40 minutes. Never fazed by the Giants’ attack as new coach Jim Lenihan watched on, the Rhinos needed only six minutes to get the scoreboard rolling as Oledzki found the try line. Leeds tried to open up the Giants right edge, but a quick shift back in the opposite direction by Brodie Croft caught the visitors off guard and Oledzki dived through for his first try since the away trip to Huddersfield in September 2025.

Newman doubled the lead before the ten-minute mark as the Rhinos’ grasp on the game tightened. Starting at loose forward for the first time since the Warrington win, Cameron Smith opened up the heart of the Giants to make the initial break, and a quick move through the hands of Croft and James McDonnell a play later resulted in Newman diving in at the corner.

Croft was denied a score as he supported Connor’s shoulder but the pass ricocheted to the ground fortunately for the Giants, who’s attack spluttered and faltered as the sun set behind the North Stand. Leeds on the other hand kept the points coming as Connor turned provider for Ryan Hall, after the half back’s last tackle kick bounced out of the grasp of both Croft and Jacob Gagai for Hall to plant down at the last minute. Connor was good from the kicking tee to make the score 18-0 after 26 minutes.

Despite the news he would be leaving the club at the end of the season, Croft remained on a mission all night in both attack and defence. After intervening to force a knock on from Connor Carr to stop a certain try for the Huddersfield winger, the Leeds half back then played the perfect supporting role for a Cooper Jenkins break as he continued Leeds’ rout before the half hour mark.

A late drive for the line from Gagai and a wide drop goal attempt from Connor rounded off an almost faultless for the home side, and their dominance continued deep into the second 40 minutes with five more tries.

Huddersfield had managed to work their way into Leeds’ half to build some pressure following half time, but it dissipated when Maika Sivo finished one of his trademark drives for the line. Debutant McCormack was lively in setting the Rhinos up, before Connor’s well-weighted grubber kick sat up for the Fijian flyer to dot down for his 21^st try of the campaign.

On the opposite wing, Hall was halted from breaking away after a quick pass from Croft was judged to be forward as the Leeds winger raced into the backfield. Yet again, they didn’t have to wait long to break the wall of claret and gold again; Newman capping off a brilliant combination play between Kallum Watkins and Croft to get his second of the night and open the floodgates for a late surge of points.

McDonnell bullied his way to get the ball to the ground as the second rower got in on the action as the game approached its final ten minutes – Connor swiftly adding the conversion to notch Leeds up to 40 points. Danny Levi was unlucky not to finish a break originally started by Croft, but the crowd was up on its feet minutes later when Connor fed Oledzki through for the prop’s first career brace.

Determined on getting to the half century, Chris Hankinson ensured to cap a memorable night as great work again by McCormack opened up space for the back rower to slice through and get his first try since round two. As the pair celebrated with the rest of their team mates, Connor’s eighth goal in nine attempts sailed through to send the Rhinos back top of the table as they kept Huddersfield scoreless for the third time in Super League meetings between the clubs.

Teams

Rhinos

28. Fergus McCormack, 2. Maika Sivo, 4. Ash Handley (C), 3. Harry Newman, 5. Ryan Hall, 6. Brodie Croft, 7. Jake Connor, 8. Mikolaj Oledzki, 9. Jarrod O’Connor, 15. Cooper Jenkins, 14. Chris Hankinson, 12. James McDonnell, 17. Cameron Smith

Subs: 23. Danny Levi, 13. Keenan Palasia, 11. Kallum Watkins, 20. Presley Cassell (18th Man – 26. Tom Nicholson-Watton)

Tries: Oledzki (6, 73), Newman (9, 59), Hall (26), Croft (29), Sivo (49), McDonnell (66), Hankinson (78)

Goals: Connor 8/9

Giants

1. Niall Evalds, 41. Lee Kershaw, 42. Lewis Jagger, 3. Jacob Gagai, 24. Connor Carr, 6. Tui Lolohea, 32. Olly Russell, 23. Chris Patolo, 9. Zac Woolford, 14. Fenton Rogers, 12. Sam Hewitt, 13. Harry Rushton, 8. Tristan Powell

Subs: 15. Matty English, 17. Joe Greenwood, 20. Mathieu Cozza, 40. Cole Geyer (18^th Man: 16. George King)