Leeds Rhinos 6 Wakefield Trinity 30 - Leeds Rhinos’ Super League ‘race looks run’ as Trinity make it three wins on the spin
Rhinos’ aren’t out of play-offs contention, but their best hope rests on the semi-finals being expanded from four teams to six - as has been muted - or Catalans Dragons failing to reach 15 games to qualify.
Max Jowitt’s first-half hat-trick helped Trinity into a 20-0 interval lead and though Leeds were better in the second period, they never got close enough to set Wakefield’s nerves on edge.
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Hide AdWinning the Coral Challenge Cup made it a successful season for Rhinos, but also stacked the odds against them forcing their way into the top-four.
Trinity, on the other hand, are finding their form at the end of what has been a difficult - and at times miserable - year for them and they were full value for their third-successive win.
Rhinos were clearly hampered by the loss of four players who have been stood down on track and trace because of the coronavirus outbreak at Castleford Tigers and they also had one day less to recover.
But, while Leeds had four players playing their third game in seven days, seven of Trinity’s side had featured against Huddersfield Giants a week earlier and Hull KR on Sunday.
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Hide AdThat is a big effort but, even so, they looked fresher than Leeds and, once they had survived some early pressure, they played with confidence and some flair and Rhinos seemed to sense it was not going to be their night.
Rhinos’ effort isn’t in question, but the tough recent schedule - including everything which comes with a Wembley appearance - is clearly taking its toll.
Rhinos went close to scoring before Trinity had been in possession, but their attack never fired, despite a spirited attempt to get back into the game in the second half - and there was some painfully tired defence at times before the interval.
They got away with a below-par effort against Tigers three days earlier, but Trinity have been transformed over the past week or so, since a national newspaper claimed coach Chris Chester was facing a player’s revolt.
Wakefield look like a team determined to make a point.
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Hide AdThe closest Leeds got in the first half came when Alex Sutcliffe was held up over Trinity’s line by a posse of tacklers in the opening moments and Wakefield’s defence muscled up again to keep Rhyse Martin out at the end of a strong run.
Sutcliffe, Jack Walker, Luke Briscoe, Tom Holroyd and Brett Ferres came into the Leeds side in place of Konrad Hurrell, Richie Myler, Tom Briscoe, Matt Prior and James Donaldson, though the club have not revealed which of those are self-isolating.
Rhinos did most of the early pressing and the opening try came totally against the run of play, after 12 minutes, but once that had been scored, Wakefiekld were clearly the better team.
Luke Gale’s pass which sent Ava Seumanufagai between the Trinity posts was forward and, in the next set, Innes Senior broke down the wing off good work by Ryan Hampshire and Reece Lyne, and Jowitt was in support to take the final pass. The full-back doubled up 10 minutes later, this time supporting a break by Tom Johnstone from Jacob Miller’s pass.
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Hide AdAgain, Rhinos had been in a good attacking position, but a miskick by Gale turned the ball over and Wakefield’s pace out wide carved them open.
Eleven minutes before the break, Trinity were in for a third time and this time it came via route one, through prop Dave Fifita who proved too big and strong for Gale and Kruise Leeming from 10 metres out.
Hampshire converted the second and third tries to make it 16-0 and things got even better for Trinity on the final play of the half when Jowitt twisted in from close-range for his hat-trick try, after Eddie Battye had been held up over the whitewash.
Rhinos had another touchdown ruled out for a forward pass, Ferres to Cameron Smith this time - at the start of the second half.
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Hide AdAsh Handley and Seumanufagai showed some determination to deny Senior a try and Trinity matched that when Alex Mellor was held up over the line and Ash Handley was barged into touch just short.
Leeds finally managed to avoid a shut-out when Handley crawled over, from Liam Sutcliffe’s pass, with 18 minutes left.
Martin added the extras and Rhinos deserve credit for never throwing in the towel, but Wakefield scored two late tries, both through Senior, after Mellor had been sin-binned - nine minutes from time - for a late challenge on Hampshire.
Lyne created the winger’s first try and then - after Kelepi Tanginoa had been denied by video referee James Child - he crossed again in the final minute following clever play by Hampshire.
The eight penalties were shared. Trinity had three set restarts to Rhinos’ two.
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