Leeds Rhinos were comfortable 38-24 victors at AMT Headingley today, but a spirited finish gave Castleford Tigers something to build on.
The visitors were on the back foot for three-quarters of the game and trailed Rhinos 38-6 with 17 minutes left, but staged a mini-rally to score the final three tries, making the scoreline much more respectable than seemed likely.
Missing both their first-choice half-backs, Brodie Croft and Matt Frawley, Rhinos went big, with three props in the starting side, including Keenan Palasia at loose-forward.
For the most part, it worked, though they took a while to get going and their 18 unanswered first half points were all scored in the second quarter.
Leeds thought they’d gone ahead after 17 minutes through Riley Lumb, but referee Marcus Griffiths said no and video assistant Tom Grant agreed the winger had dropped the ball in Sam Wood’s tackle as he attempted to touch down at full stretch.
The first try came five minutes after that when Jake Connor, Leeds’ best player, displayed some footwork on the final tackle and managed to get the ball down, as agreed by the two officials.
They went back-to-back when Keenan Palasia crashed over for his first Leeds try. Connor provided the pass after a one-two with James Bentley. The third try came via an unexpected source, three minutes before the interval.
Ash Handley dabbed a lovely kick behind the defence and his fellow centre Harry Newman ran through to touch down.
Another kick from a three-quarter – Ryan Hall this time – was at the heart of Leeds’ fourth try, immediately after the interval. Newman tapped it on to Connor and he sent in a jubilant Sinfield.
Handley stepped through from James Bentley’s pass on 49 minutes to make it 28-0, but Cas got off the mark with a lovely try, scored by Fletcher Rooney from George Lawler’s break. Hall’s try was bizarre. Handley made a break and Andy Ackers would have scored from the pass inside, but was obstructed by the ref. Leeds, though, played on and Bentley and Sinfield combined to send the winger over.
Connor kicked his fifth and final goal and Lumb bagged a deserved try, but an interception by Zac Cini from James McDonnell sparked Tigers’ purple patch which also saw Jeremiah Simbiken slice through and then Innes Senior scored an outstanding long-range effort. All their tries were improved by Tex Hoy.
Leeds Rhinos: Connor, Lumb, Newman, Handley, Hall, Gannon, Sinfield, Oledzki, Ackers, Jenkins, Bentley, McDonnell, Palasia. Sub O’Connor, Lisone, Holroyd, Edgell.
Castleford Tigers: Rooney, Kershaw, Wood, Cini, I Senior, Asi, Hoy, Namo, Horne, Lawler, Simbiken, Mellor, Westerman. Subs Rimbu, Griffin, Hill, Mustapha.
Referee: Marcus Griffiths (Widnes). Attendance: 14,234.
The Rhinos make it back to back wins as they defeat Castleford at AMT Headingley
Rhinos 38 – 24 Tigers
🤝 In partnership #Anchor #ButtertheFoodButtertheMood pic.twitter.com/AOYnfZTV8J— Leeds Rhinos (@leedsrhinos) March 2, 2025
