Leeds Rhinos boss Brad Arthur found it difficult to sum up what was a crazy game of Super League, as his side emerged 40-22 winners over Wakefield Trinity.
Maika Sivo crossed for a hat-trick, whilst Brodie Croft scored twice to add to their already impressive 2026 tallys.
Kallum Watkins also got over the whitewash, whilst Jake Connor also kicked three penalty goals, all of which came at key points in the game.
Arthur’s side weren’t without their faults however, with the side being given three yellow cards across the evening – something Arthur will be hoping to rectify quickly.
“I’ve got no idea,” Arthur said when trying to sum up the game.
“Longest game in history. [We had a] good 35 minutes, or 37 minutes. I had it all worked out, what I was coming in to say at half-time and it was all positive and probably our best 35 minutes, and then our last two sets, two errors and then a penalty
“What transpired on the end of it, the sin bin, and then the start of the second half, I thought we were extremely brave.
“We were very good defensively, systematically with only 12 players. We’ve done a bit of practicing with [12 players] in the pre-season, so I thought we handled everything really well.
He continued: “Extremely proud of how brave all the boys were and how physical. I thought we were physically very, very good, especially to start the game.”
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Leeds Rhinos boss offers verdict on triple yellow cards
Sivo’s hat-trick formed just part of his eventful evening, with the winger being one of three Leeds players to be sin-binned.
A late hit on Josh Rourke saw the Fijian international sat down for 10, before Ash Handley was sent for a professional foul and Jack Bird for delaying a Trinity restart.
Arthur labelled all three decisions as “fair”, with the Rhinos coaching staff having no complaints over any of them.
“Ash’s one… look, it’s hard. He’s trying to get into a contest, and then the ball bounced the other way, like he’s anticipating that he’s just about to get the ball.
“How does he pull out of that? Look, yeah it’s a tough.
“Jack’s was just silly. Maika’s, I’ll have to watch the tackle again but there’s no malice in it. I suppose it he does make contact with the head, probably fair enough.”
