Leeds extend lead at top of Super League after thrilling late win at Wakefield

Leeds Rhinos produced a magnificent and dramatic comeback in one of the games of the Super League season so far to open up a four-point lead at the top, after emerging victorious against their nearest challengers, second-placed Wakefield Trinity.

Brad Arthur’s side trailed 22-6 with half an hour remaining in Wakefield in front of a sell-out crowd, the majority of whom looked as though they would be celebrating a statement night that would see Trinity move joint-top of the table.

However, Leeds showed their championship credentials in abundance when it mattered most. They scored three tries without reply, the final one of which came from Chris Hankinson with just three minutes remaining before Jake Connor kicked the decisive conversion to move the Rhinos a significant step closer towards top spot heading into the playoffs.

It was the Super League leaders who seemed to settle the quicker in front of the full house in attendance. Leeds began on the front foot and would have been disappointed not to come away with the first points, having tested the Wakefield line with a sustained spell of pressure – but to Trinity’s credit, they dug in magnificently to hold the Rhinos at bay.

And that defensive resilience would pay off. As the midway point in the half arrived so too did Wakefield’s interchange forwards, and it was Caleb Hamlin-Uele and Caius Faatili who gave the hosts a real lift. Their presence saw Trinity begin their own onslaught on the Leeds line and with their first meaningful attack, they would open the scoring.

Jack Sinfield’s clever kick bounced awkwardly to wrongfoot Lachie Miller, giving Isaiah Vagana a free run to the line and Sinfield a simple conversion to make it 6-0. Then two minutes later the home crowd almost took the roof off when Faatili’s rampaging break was supported by Hamlin-Uele, who finished under the posts to spark bedlam among the Trinity fans.

It would get even better, too. Sinfield was again the tormentor in chief of the side who released him last year, with his cleverly timed pass allowing Jayden Myers to cross in the corner and make it 16-0. The league leaders weren’t just losing; they were at risk of being blown away by their nearest contenders.

But as half-time approached, the Rhinos responded. They simply had to score next and managed to do that when Brodie Croft cut through a gap after a rare Wakefield error to narrow the deficit to ten at the break. After what they had been bombarded with earlier, they would have likely considered being 16-6 behind a real result.

However, Wakefield took control of proceedings again after the restart through the man of the moment. Sinfield bamboozled the Leeds defence to cut through and extend Trinity’s lead to three scores again, with his father, Sir Kevin Sinfield, watching on from the stands with perhaps mixed emotions given his obvious ties to the Rhinos.

Leeds were once again on the ropes. Wakefield’s defence came to the fore again with Cam Scott producing a stunning tackle to deny Alfie Edgell a certain try – but they were powerless when Croft’s assist for James McDonnell two minutes later dragged the Rhinos back in contention when the game was again threatening to spiral out of control.

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That moment reinvigorated Leeds. With their tails up, the visitors clawed the deficit back further as the hour mark approached as Cam Smith – who will play for Wakefield in 2027 – scored a stunning solo try to make it a four-point game heading into the final stages of what was rapidly becoming a classic.

Every play was now being watched with bated breath from all in attendance. It was tense, it was nerve-shredding and it was now going the distance. Leeds had a try disallowed which looked as though it would allow Trinity to hold on but, with three minutes left, Connor’s perfect kick was eventually grounded by Hankinson.

Connor nervelessly converted and Leeds survived a frantic final few moments to secure a priceless victory.