After suffering an opening round defeat at the hands of the Warrington Wolves, the Rhinos had a second-round home match with Hull FC as they looked to spoil the Airlie Birds winning start to the season and pick up two points of their own to boost the Headingly faithful.
Rohan Smith made two changes to his side from last week bringing Nene Macdonald in for his debut and starting with Cameron Smith in the thirteen. Tony Smith made just one positional switch to his winning side, with Joe Lovodua coming into the starting line-up, and Chris Satae dropping to the bench.
Leeds were slight favourites with the bookies, FC being given a four-point start on the handicap coupon.
With twelve minutes elapsed and defending a third successive set of six on their own line the Rhinos conceded the first try of the game as Cameron Scott was on hand as FC developed a three on two overlap to drop the shoulder and come inside to dive over from five metres out. Jake Clifford was off target with his conversion attempt.
Great defence from the Black and Whites kept Leeds out from five metres with a full set to get over the line, but Leeds were starting to make some headway.
On nineteen the Rhinos were on level terms when battering ram Cameron Smith pushed Lovodua out of the way before stretching for the line to ground one handed. Rhyse Martin added the conversion and the Rhinos had the lead for the first time in 2023.
On twenty-six former Rhinos man Liam Sutcliffe was on hand to take an offload and finish off a dogged run by Chris Satae as he went over in the corner. This time Clifford did brilliantly to convert from the touchline for a 10-6 lead.
Just after the half hour Kane Evans lost the ball in the act of scoring, the Rhinos using their ´get out of jail free card´.
A 40-20 from Aiden Sezer with two minutes remaining forced FC onto the back foot and on the last tackle the Rhinos forced a goal line drop out but the half time hooter beat the Rhinos to the try line, FC taking a four point lead into the interval.
A sensational length of the field try from FC extended the lead and bought some breathing space. Adam Swift was on hand to benefit from a Jordan Lane break through the Rhinos defence and a sprint into the Rhinos twenty before putting in a sublime pass. Clifford added the conversion for 16-6.
On fifty-five Justin Sangare took a Blake Austin pass and pushed his way between two tacklers before offloading to Kruise Leeming a few metres from the sticks to dive over by the left upright. Martin blasted the conversion into the Carnegie Stand for 12-16.
Leeds blew two great try scoring opportunities in quick succession, the second when Austin put the ball to ground off an Ash Handley pass when he simply had to stroll over the line from thirty metres out.
As the clock ticked over seventy the Rhinos went in for their third try of the night when Fusitu´a took a Sezer pass above his head on the wing to step over the line and score in the corner. Martin added the touchline goal and the Rhino hit the front again.
Six minutes from time Scott Taylor span out of a tackle from a tiring Leeds defence to ground by the right upright to again take the lead for the Airlie Birds. Clifford again hit the mark, Hull FC with a 22-18 lead and just over four minutes remaining.
Danny Houghton was penalised for a voluntary tackle on seventy-six, but Hull muscled up in defence and kept the Rhinos out to run the clock down to their fifth consecutive victory at Headingley.
The Airlie Birds are up to third in the table, tucked in behind their neighbours from across the city but more importantly they are two wins from two outings at the start of the season. The Rhinos were much improved compared to last weeks performance, but they are still pointless at the start of the season with a trip to St Helens to look forward to next weekend.
Leeds Rhinos: Myler, Fusitu´a (T), Macdonald, Handley, Olpherts, Austin, Sezer, Holroyd, Leeming (T), Tetevano, Gannon, Martin (3G), Smith (T). Subs: Lisone, O´Connor, Sangare, Donaldson.
Hull FC: Hoy, Swift (T), Sutcliffe (T), Scott (T), McIntosh, McNamara, Clifford (3G), Taylor (T), Dwyer, Fash, Lane, Griffin, Lovodua. Subs: Cator, Evans, Houghton, Satae. 18th Man: Brown.
Half-Time: 6-10.
Full-Time: 18-22.
Score Progression: 0-4, 4-4, 6-4, 6-8, 6-10 : HT : 6-14, 6-16, 10-16, 12-16, 16-16, 18-16, 18-20, 18-22 : FT.
Lead Exchanges: Hull FC – Square – Leeds – Hull FC – Square – Leeds – Hull FC.
Referee: Jack Smith.
