Leeds demonstrated why they are the benchmark in the Super League when a last‑minute try from Chris Hankinson sealed a nail‑biting 24‑22 triumph over Wakefield at the bustling DIY Kitchens Stadium. The match was a roller‑coaster of momentum, with the home side soaring to an early 16‑0 lead thanks to the brilliance of former Leeds half‑back Jack Sinfield, only to see the league leaders rally and snatch victory in the final minutes. Sinfield, the son of Leeds legend Kevin, made an immediate impact against the club that let him go at the end of the previous season.
Within the first eight minutes of the first half he supplied the pass for two of Wakefield’s three tries, propelling the hosts to a commanding 16‑0 advantage. His early dominance set the tone, but the tide turned after the break. Sinfield crossed the line himself early in the second half, extending Wakefield’s lead to 22‑6 and giving Trinity a glimmer of hope that they could at least draw level on points with Leeds. Leeds, however, refused to be rattled.
In the final thirty minutes they switched on a relentless intensity. James McDonnell and Cameron Smith broke through while Sinfield was temporarily off the pitch, and even after the 21‑year‑old returned, the momentum stayed firmly with Leeds.
The decisive moment arrived when Jake Connor delivered a low kick that Hankinson collected and turned into a try. Connor then added his fourth conversion in the 78th minute, nudging Leeds ahead for the first time and securing the win. The victory widened Leeds’ lead at the top of the table to four points over their West Yorkshire rivals, ending Wakefield’s impressive seven‑match winning streak.
The early phases of the game saw Leeds dominate possession, forcing Wakefield into a series of goal‑line drop‑outs after Connor’s 40‑20. Sinfield was instrumental in driving the returning Leeds captain Ash Handley into touch, easing the pressure on his own side. When Wakefield finally found space, Sinfield’s clever chip over the defensive line bounced past covering defender Lachie Miller, allowing Isaiah Vagana to touch down and open the scoring.
The match also featured a powerful cameo from bench prop Caius Faatili, who bulldozed through the Leeds defense before passing to Caleb Hamlin‑Uele for a try, while Sinfield’s dummy and off‑load enabled Jayden Myers to score in the corner, cementing Wakefield’s 16‑0 lead after 29 minutes. Sinfield missed his third conversion, and Wakefield’s momentum stalled before halftime.
Leeds capitalised when Brodie Croft exploited a gap to get the first points on the board. After the break, Wakefield struck first again when Sinfield collected a pass from Faatili, feigned a move to the wing, and powered through two defenders to score a try that was awarded after a video review, despite some doubts about the grounding. Sinfield added the conversion, but soon after he headed for the tunnel, and Leeds seized the opportunity. Leeds’ half‑hour‑to‑go try came from McDonnell, who, after a series of near‑misses—including an Alfie Edgell foot‑drag into touch and a held‑up Jarrod O'Connor—finally crossed the line.
Cameron Smith then showcased the future potential of his new side by slipping through a gap and scoring, with Connor’s third conversion narrowing the deficit to four points. When Sinfield returned, Wakefield’s Cameron Scott appeared to have a chance to extend the lead, but his foot was forced into touch before he could ground the ball.
From that point on, Leeds dominated the final quarter. A high ball from Croft resulted in a knock‑on that denied Ash Handley a try, but Hankinson capitalised on a clever grubber from Connor, touching down with three minutes left. Connor’s conversion put Leeds ahead for the first time, sealing a dramatic comeback. In other Super League action, Hull KR continued their resurgence by dismantling Castleford in a one‑sided 44‑0 display at the OneBore Stadium.
Castleford were missing head coach Ryan Carr for personal reasons and entered the match on the back of five defeats in six games. The Rovers, chasing a playoff spot, exploded in the second half with six tries, including braces from Tom Davies and Tyrone May. The first try came twelve minutes in when Jez Litten collected his own grubber kick. By half‑time the score was 10‑0, but May’s strike in the 45th minute ignited a flurry of four tries in eleven minutes, with Joe Burgess, Peta Hiku, and a second May try adding to the tally.
Davies completed his brace late on, and Rhyse Martin capped the onslaught with a try in the 73rd minute, delivering a personal 14‑point haul for the Papua New Guinea forward. Meanwhile, the Leigh Leopards boosted their playoff aspirations with a 22‑14 victory over York Knights. Leigh entered the break with a slim 12‑10 lead, thanks to tries from Josh Charnley and Joe Ofahengaue, while York’s Jon Bennison had already crossed twice.
In the second half Leigh asserted control, adding scores from Andy Badrock and David Armstrong to extend the margin to 22‑10. York fought back, with Bennison completing a hat‑trick late in the game, but it wasn’t enough to overturn Leigh’s lead. The win left Adrian Lam’s side on 28 points in sixth place, four points ahead of St Helens in seventh.
These results underline the competitive intensity of the Super League this season, with Sky Sports broadcasting every match live, including exclusive live coverage of two games each round and additional fixtures on Sky Sports+. The league’s narrative continues to evolve as teams battle for playoff positions and the ultimate prize of the championship.