Round twenty-five, the ‘reverse rivals round’ promised to
answer some of the outstanding questions about play-off positions, the minor
premiership, and who would likely suffer the heartache of their season ending after
round twenty-seven.
First up was the Huddersfield Giants against the Leeds Rhinos,
the former looking almost certain to end the season in a disappointing tenth
place in the table, but the latter seeking a big win to lift them level on
points with second placed Wigan and make some improvement in their points
difference as they continue the quest for a top two finish.
The Rhinos won the previous meeting in 2025 by 28-6 and the
handicaps reflected that previous scoreline with the Giants given a twenty-two-point
start on the coupon.
Great early pressure from the Rhinos paid dividends on ten
when a Brodie Croft kick to goal collected by Harry Newman and grounded. Jake
Connor missed with the conversion attempt, but the visitors were up and running.
A good period of play from the Giants saw then spend decent
time inside the Rhinos half and had a try ruled out for a forward pass.
When Connor was taken out chasing his own kick inside the
Giants ten, the referee awarded a penalty and Connor hit the target to extend
the lead to 6-0 after thirty-five, the Rhinos finding it much tougher going than
would have expected before kick-off.
Leeds were finding it tough and going up in two’s, Connor
adding a second penalty goal after an off the ball challenge forty from the
sticks, Leeds with an eight-point lead at the break.
On the hour the Rhino rode their luck when Morgan Gannon
took an awful bounce pass from Lachie Miller to go through the defensive line
and run home from twenty to scire under the sticks. Miller took over the
kicking duties from Connor who was on the sidelines, the Rhinos fullback making
it 14-0.
A high tackle on Newman from Jacob Gagai was followed by a
spilled ball, two set restarts and a goal line drop out in Leeds favour which
saw the pressure piled on the Giants defence, but in the end it came to nothing,
Leeds definitely under par, the Giants playing beyond expectations.
Sam Lisone was held up over the line on seventy and on
seventy-seven a moment of brilliance from Miller, chipping over the top of the
defensive line and collecting his own kick before passing outside to the
supporting Croft who went to ground and slip over under the tackle for the
third Rhinos score of the afternoon, Miller added the extras for 20-0.
Ten seconds from the final hooter, Mikolaj Oledzki powered
over the line from five metres out and forced the ball to ground. The video
referee checked the decision but agreed with the referee and the try was
awarded. Miller kicked the conversion as the hooter sounded for 26-0.
The win maintains the Rhinos third place, now equal on
points with the Wigan Warriors, but at what cost after main playmaker Jake Connor
left the field on fifty minutes and ran straight down the tunnel for treatment.
It was far from the walkover that the Rhinos would have been hoping for before
kick-off and has done little to improve their points difference which may prove
crucial come the last day of the regular season, when they will face the Wigan
Warriors.
Huddersfield Giants: Flanagan, McGowan, Bibby, Gagai,
Halsall, Russell, Rush, Burgess, Woolford, Powell, Greenwood, Billington,
Rushton. Subs: Golding, King, Rigers, Land. 18th Man: Sykes.
Leeds Rhinos: Miller (G 3/3), Hall, Newman (T), McCormack, Hankinson,
Croft (T), Connor (G 2/3), Jenkins, Ackers, Oledzki (T), Gannon (T), McDonnell,
Watkins. Subs: Cassell, Lisone, Bentley, O’Connor. 18th Man: Sinfield.
Half-Time: 0-8.
Full-Time: 0-26.
Score Progression: 0-4, 0-6, 0-8 : HT: 0-12, 0-14, 0-18, 0-20,
0-24, 0-26 :FT.
Lead Exchanges: Leeds.
Referee: Tom Grant.
