Despite securing their place in the semi-finals for the first time since 2017, Leeds Rhinos ended their regular season campaign on a disappointing note as they lost out 18-12 to Hull FC at AMT Headingley.

A week on from a damaging loss to Wigan Warriors in the race for the League Leaders’ Shield, hopes were high that the Rhinos could bounce back as they faced a Hull side with two wins in their last ten matches. A largely scrappy affair saw the Rhinos push for tries that were unfortunate not to come off, whilst the Black and White’s managed to convert their best chances of the game to finish the season with a win.

Leeds were forced into one change after their defeat to Wigan last time out, as Lachie Miller’s confirmed hamstring injury saw captain Ash Handley fill the vacant full-back spot, as confirmed by head coach Brad Arthur earlier in the week. The return of star winger Maika Sivo ensured the Rhinos back line didn’t suffer further adjustments as the Fijian flyer played his first game since the home win over Bradford, plus Brad Arthur’s side was bolstered by the return of forward Keenan Palasia too. Having missed almost two months of action, the prop was thrown into a pack alongside Matt Lodge and Mikolaj Oledzki that were aiming to respond following the loss to the Warriors, whilst Kallum Watkins and Cooper Jenkins rotated to the bench.

Alongside Brodie Croft marking his 200^th career game against the Black and Whites, former Rhinos player and Hull outside back Tom Briscoe ran out for his 400^th Super League and final career game as he brought the curtain down on a glittering career.

A first half of chances frustrated the Rhinos as Hull’s scramble defence kept the home side at bay. Early nerves from Harvey Barron saw the winger knock on Jake Connor’s kick-off to invite early pressure on the Airlie Bird’s try line, only for Chris Hankinson to end a promising attack as he couldn’t hold Connor’s bullet pass at short range. The returning Sivo was forced over the sideline as he started to work himself back into match fitness, whilst his centre partner in Jack Bird should have got the opening points of the night. With a fractured defensive line in front of him, Connor’s grubber kick for the in-goal area was almost perfect for the onrushing Bird, but video referee Liam Rush confirmed the centre had lost the ball going to ground.

20 minutes in, the away side took their first chance for points against the run of play as Logan Moy found his way over the line. Pressure on Connor on the last tackle forced Leeds’ newly crowned Player of the Year to fashion a late pass for Handley to make a half break in Hull territory, but the Black and White’s had an answer in the shape of Tom Briscoe. The centre broke the tackle of Harry Newman to start the break, before passing away for Moy, who wrong-footed the Leeds defence to dart away and score.

Almost immediately, the Rhinos responded as Hankinson made up for his earlier error. Clicking into gear after a Briscoe pass judged to be touched by a Leeds player was overturned by a captain’s challenge, the combination of Connor and Brodie Croft connected up to shift to the right side, where Hankinson was racing on an angle to scythe his way over. Hull defenders claimed the Leeds player was held up, but referee Aaron Moore’s on-field call was upheld. Connor added the conversion to level the score at 6-6 with eight minutes left in the half.

A final chance of the first period should have seen Ryan Hall race down the touchline, but the first of numerous chances for the winger saw Newman’s pass fly into touch. Luckily touched by Lewis Martin, the Rhinos forced a drop out from Hull before skipper Handley was taken out in the air by Zak Hardaker. Although the incident was put on report, the option not to penalise the Hull man didn’t let Connor kick a penalty goal as the teams went into the break all square.

A ginger start to the second half once again saw the Rhinos enjoy some of the best chances; only to agonisingly come up short. Boosted downfield by a holding-down penalty on Sivo and handed a set restart when Lloyd Kemp took Croft’s kick ahead into his own in-goal area, a designed scrum play tried to open the edge for Sivo, only for the winger to be forced out of play.

Andy Last’s side used the turn in possession to camp themselves on the Rhinos try line and managed to come up with their second try of the night. Back-to-back drop-outs forced by Handley’s interventions unstuck Leeds when Connor’s second drop-out initially bounced short before being picked up by Lloyd Kemp. With space to roam, the hooker fended away from Handley, Cooper Jenkins and Tom Holroyd to burrow his way over and edge the visitors in front once again.

Leeds tried to muster a response much like in the first half, but were turned away on every occasion as the clock ticked down. Another error from Barron from Connor’s restart handed the Rhinos a golden opportunity, only to be squandered as Newman knocked on a high kick from Connor. Croft’s pass over the top for Hall was a good idea as the half back spotted a tight Hull defence, but the final pass ended up over the sideline.

Heading into the final ten minutes, a huge call denied Jack Bird a try that could have opened up the contest with time on the clock. Croft’s handy dab kick for the posts was perfect for Connor to pat the ball back to the on-rushing Bird to touch down. After being sent up as a no-try by referee Moore, video referee Liam Rush confirmed the decision for a knock-on by Connor in the process of handing the ball back.

Minutes later, Hull were at the other end of the pitch celebrating as they locked up the result with a third score. Moy collected Connor’s bomb kick to start a counter-attack alongside Davy Litten, and after Martin had gained more metres on the opposite side of the field, Jake Arthur’s last tackle kick was collected by Ethan O’Neill to keep the play alive. With the former Leeds player fashioning an offload to Hardaker, a final cutout ball for Lennon Clark saw the substitute bulldoze his way over. Kemp converted to make the score 18-6 with five minutes to go.

To their credit, the Rhinos made a late play to try and get a result. Kallum Watkins was on the end of a well-timed pass by Matt Lodge to grab a try back with two minutes remaining, before a last-ditch play saw Bird have space to break on the right. With support on his inside and a desperate tackle from Litten, the centre lost the ball forward to bring the Rhinos’ regular season to an end under a grey cloud.

Teams

Rhinos

4. Ash Handley (C), 5. Ryan Hall, 33. Jack Bird, 3. Harry Newman, 2. Maika Sivo, 6. Brodie Croft, 7. Jake Connor, 8. Mikolaj Oledzki, 9. Jarrod O’Connor, 31. Matt Lodge, 20. Presley Cassell, 14. Chris Hankinson, 13. Keenan Palasia

Subs: 10. Tom Holroyd, 11. Kallum Watkins, 15. Cooper Jenkins, 17. Cameron Smith (18th Man – 28. Fergus McCormack)

Tries: Hankinson (32), Watkins (75)

Goals: Connor 2/2

Hull FC

24. Logan Moy, 2. Harvey Barron, 3. Davy Litten, 19. Tom Briscoe, 5. Lewis Martin, 22. Connor Bailey, 6. Jake Arthur, 8. Herman Ese’ese, 32. Lloyd Kemp, 10. Harvie Hill, 21. Arthur Romano, 39. Ethan O’Neill, 15. James Bell

Subs: 4. Zak Hardaker, 25. Matty Laidlaw, 26. Hugo Salabio, 36. Lennon Clark (18^th Man –  29. Will Hutchinson)

Tries: Moy (21), Kemp (52), Clark (73)

Goals: Kemp 3/3