Leeds Rhinos helped boss Brad Arthur celebrate his 50th match in charge of the club in some style, defeating Huddersfield Giants 56-22.
The Rhinos scored 10 tries, including four from half-back Brodie Croft, to secure a dominant win over their local neighbours.
The Giants took a giant step backwards this week, with their defence being a huge concern.
From injury worries to spine stars, here are the biggest talking points to come from the action at the Accu Stadium.
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Huddersfield Giants v Leeds Rhinos talking points
Rampant Rhinos:
Leeds racked up their second highest points total of the season so far to dismantle a Huddersfield side who went into the game well in form.
Scoring a total of 10 tries, the Rhinos put on a masterclass with their spine combining incredibly to produce an entertaining watch.
Croft’s four will get the headlines, but Jake Connor was another who performed exceptionally against his former club.
Leeds have now scored the most points of anyone in Super League, though Warrington Wolves will have something to say about that with two games in hand.
Magical Miller:
It’s fair to say that when Leeds full-back Lachie Miller is on top form, he is one of the most entertaining players in Super League.
After the worst start possible with his kick-off going straight out of play, the speedster had one of his best performances and was involved in a lot of Leeds’ brilliant attack.
Scoring a first-half try via an excellent chip and chase, Miller was also key in Croft’s first of four, after his line break allowed Leeds to pounce on a jagged Giants defence.
Brad Arthur opted to bring Miller off for the final 15 minutes, though there is currently no injury concern as it stands.
All of the spine players could have got their own credit, and rightfully so, but Miller has transformed his game under Arthur and when it clicks for Leeds he almost always proves influential.
Injury concern:
After welcoming players back in the past few matches, the Giants suffered two injury concerns with both Sam Halsall and Taane Milne being forced off the field.
Halsall was an injury returnee tonight, but he didn’t see out the first half after being helped off with a calf injury. Milne failed a HIA due to the Fijian not wearing the protective mouthguard brought in this season to track collisions and the force of tackles.
For Leeds, concern is with James McDonnell who left the field with around 20 minutes to go and went straight down the tunnel. No word has been said yet on his condition, or what the injury is.
Huddersfield humbled:
After two wins in a row, Liam Finn’s honeymoon period as interim boss came to a crashing halt as his side were battered on home turf.
The Giants were well off the performances that saw them defeat Wigan and York and they looked as though they had gone back to the Luke Robinson days where they just couldn’t gain any sort of control in the game.
The side managed to cross for four tries, and to their credit their try through Jacob Gagai was a piece of brilliance, but despite scoring 22 points it would be a night to forget for the Fartown outfit.
Leeds take the lead in the league:
As it stands, the Rhinos now sit top of Super League, however there are still some games to be played in round eight.
Level on points with St Helens, only points difference separates the two but with Warrington, Wigan and Wakefield to play this weekend pole position could change yet again.
Regardless, Leeds will no doubt be in the conversation for the top four, if not top two this season as the club look to reach a first Grand Final since 2022.
