Leeds demonstrated why they are serious title contenders in the Super League, sealing a dramatic 24-22 comeback win over Wakefield at the jam-packed DIY Kitchens Stadium. The decisive moment came when Chris Hankinson crossed the line and added the conversion, capping a thrilling finish that saw the home side overturn a 16-point deficit.
The match opened with former Leeds half‑back Jack Sinfield, the son of club legend Kevin Sinfield, making a statement against the club that let him go at the end of the previous season. Sinfield set the tone early, delivering the pass that led to two of Wakefield's three first‑half tries within an eight‑minute span, propelling the hosts to a 16-0 lead.
His vision and timing were evident as he exploited gaps in the Leeds defence, allowing Isaiah Vagana to touch down the opening score after a clever dink over the top that spun past defender Lachie Miller. Wakefield continued to dominate the first half, with powerful prop Caius Faatili making an immediate impact off the bench. Faatili bulldozed through the Leeds line before off‑loading to Caleb Hamlin‑Uele, who dived under the posts. Sinfield’s dummy and off‑load then set up Jayden Myers, who finished in the corner, extending Wakefield’s advantage to 16-0 after just 29 minutes of play.
Leeds finally got on the scoreboard before the break when Brodie Croft found a seam in the defense and Brodie Croft’s kick sent the ball sailing between the posts, giving the visitors a glimmer of hope. However, Sinfield missed his third conversion, and Wakefield went into the interval with a comfortable lead. The second half began with Wakefield looking to stretch their advantage further.
Sinfield collected a pass from Faatili, feigned a wide move, then powered through two defenders to score a try that was awarded by the video referee despite some controversy over grounding. He added the conversion, pushing the score to 22-6 and seemingly putting Leeds on the back foot.
Leeds, however, refused to surrender. James McDonnell and Cameron Smith found the try‑line while Sinfield was temporarily off the pitch, and when the 21‑year‑old returned, the momentum had clearly shifted. With just thirty minutes left, Hankinson sprang into action from a low kick delivered by Jake Connor. Connor, who later added his fourth conversion in the 78th minute, kept Leeds within striking distance.
In the closing stages, Leeds’ persistence paid off. After a brief scare when Alfie Edgell’s foot was dragged into touch following a grounding, Jarrod O'Connor was held up over the line, but McDonnell kept his composure and crossed the line to bring Leeds level. A few minutes later, Cameron Smith, now a key figure for his new side, wriggled free of the defense and exploited a gap to score, narrowing the gap to four points after Connor’s third conversion.
When Sinfield returned to the field, Leigh’s hopes of extending the lead faded as Cameron Scott’s attempt was knocked into touch before he could ground the ball. From that point on, Leeds dominated the final quarter. A high ball from Croft that could have resulted in a try for Ash Handley was ruled a knock‑on, but Leeds capitalised when Hankinson finished a clever grubber from Connor.
Connor’s conversion split the posts, giving Leeds a 24-22 lead with just three minutes remaining—a lead they would hold onto until the final whistle. The victory moved Leeds four points clear at the summit of the league, extending their lead over local rivals and halting Wakefield’s impressive seven‑match winning streak.
In other Super League action, Hull KR delivered a crushing performance against Castleford, scoring eight tries in a 44-0 rout at the OneBore Stadium. Castleford were without head coach Ryan Carr, who was absent for personal reasons, and entered the match after a dismal run of five defeats in six games. Hull KR’s Tom Davies and Tyrone May each recorded a brace, while Rhyse Martin added a try in the 73rd minute, capping a dominant display that left Castleford reeling. Meanwhile, the Leigh Leopards secured a crucial 22-14 win over the York Knights, bolstering their playoff aspirations.
Leigh led 12-10 at halftime thanks to tries from Josh Charnley and Joe Ofahengaue. In the second half, Andy Badrock and David Armstrong extended the lead to 22-10. York fought back, with Jon Bennison completing a hat‑trick, but it was insufficient to overturn Leigh’s advantage.
The Leopards now sit on 28 points in sixth place, four points ahead of St Helens in seventh. These results underline the shifting dynamics in the Super League as teams jockey for playoff positions. Sky Sports continues to broadcast every match live this season, with two games each round shown exclusively on the main channel and the remaining fixtures available on Sky Sports+.