Leeds reinforced their reputation as Super League front‑runners when a late try from Chris Hankinson sealed a nail‑biting 24‑22 comeback win over Wakefield at a buzzing DIY Kitchens Stadium. The match unfolded as a roller‑coaster, with Leeds initially trailing but ultimately demonstrating why they sit atop the table.
The first half belonged to Wakefield, largely thanks to the brilliance of former Leeds half‑back Jack Sinfield. The 21‑year‑old, who left the Rhinos at the end of the previous season, was instrumental in his old club’s early surge.
Within the opening eight minutes he supplied the pass that led to two of Wakefield’s three tries, catapulting the hosts to a 16‑0 lead. Sinfield’s own try came shortly after the break, extending the gap 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 surrender.
The league leaders found a second wind in the final thirty minutes. James McDonnell and Cameron Smith broke through the Wakefield line while Sinfield was temporarily off the field, and even after his return the momentum stayed with Leeds.
A low kick from Jake Connor set up Hankinson, whose finish was followed by Connor’s fourth conversion in the 78th minute, flipping the scoreboard in Leeds’ favour for the first time. The victory widened Leeds’ cushion at the summit to four points over their West Yorkshire rivals, ending Wakefield’s impressive seven‑match winning streak.
Early in the game Wakefield had the upper hand, forcing three goal‑line drop‑outs after Connor’s 40‑20. Sinfield, playing a defensive role, helped drive captain Ash Handley into touch, relieving pressure on Leeds. When Wakefield finally attacked, Sinfield’s lofted pass over the top spun past defender Lachie Miller, allowing Isaiah Vagana to cross for the opening score. Wakefield’s power forward Caius Faatili made an immediate impact after coming off the bench, bulldozing through Leeds’ defense and feeding Caleb Hamlin‑Uele for a try.
Sinfield’s dummy and off‑load then saw Jayden Myers touch down in the corner, cementing a 16‑0 lead after just 29 minutes. Sinfield missed his third conversion, and Wakefield’s rhythm stalled before the break. Leeds got on the board when Brodie Croft exploited a gap to score, narrowing the deficit. The second half began with Wakefield still in the driver’s seat.
Sinfield collected a pass from Faatili, feigned a wide move, then powered through two defenders to score – a try that survived video‑referee scrutiny despite questions about grounding. He added the conversion, but soon after he headed for the tunnel, and Leeds seized the opportunity. A contentious moment saw Alfie Edgell’s foot dragged into touch after a grounding, and Jarrod O'Connor was held up over the line, but James McDonnell finally broke the deadlock with a try thirty minutes from full‑time. Leeds continued to press.
Cameron Smith, who will join a new side next season, wriggled free of his teammates and exploited a gap to score, while Jake Connor’s third conversion pulled Leeds within four points. When Sinfield re‑entered the field, Wakefield’s Cameron Scott missed a chance to extend the lead, his foot being pulled into touch before he could ground the ball. From that point the match turned into one‑way traffic for Leeds.
Leeds’ captain Ash Handley was denied a try after a high ball from Croft resulted in a knock‑on, but the Rhinos were not denied for long. Hankinson pounced on a clever grubber from Connor, grounding the ball and then slotting the conversion to give Leeds a three‑point lead with just three minutes remaining.
The final whistle confirmed a 24‑22 triumph, a testament to Leeds’ resilience and title‑winning pedigree. In other Super League action, Hull KR inflicted a heavy defeat on Castleford, delivering an eight‑try drubbing that left the latter reeling. Castleford entered the OneBore Stadium without head coach Ryan Carr, who was absent for personal reasons, and after a string of five losses in six games, hopes of a turnaround vanished quickly.
KR, chasing a playoff spot, scored six second‑half tries, with Tom Davies and Tyrone May each securing a brace. The first try came after just twelve minutes when Jez Litten pounced on his own grubber kick. By halftime the score read 10‑0 in KR’s favour. May’s strike in the 45th minute opened the floodgates, leading to a rapid succession of four tries in eleven minutes.
Joe Burgess, Peta Hiku and a second try from May added to the onslaught, while Davies completed his brace late on and Rhyse Martin capped the night with a try in the 73rd minute, completing a 44‑0 rout. Meanwhile, the Leigh Leopards bolstered their playoff aspirations with a 22‑14 victory over York Knights.
Leigh entered halftime 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, with Andy Badrock and David Armstrong adding tries to stretch the margin to 22‑10.
York fought back, with Bennison completing a hat‑trick in the closing minutes, but it was insufficient to overturn Leigh’s lead. The win moved Adrian Lam’s side to 28 points in sixth place, four points clear of St Helens in seventh. Sky Sports will broadcast every Super League match this season, offering two exclusive live games each round on its main channel, with the remaining fixtures available on Sky Sports+.