Leeds Rhinos extended their lead at the top of Super League with a comfortable win over Bradford Bulls at Magic Weekend.
The Rhinos won 50-16 despite not being at their best, something that is scary. The win marked Leeds Rhinos’ sixth straight victory, the first time that they have accomplished that feat under Brad Arthur, with the last time the club managed it being 2022, the year they last made the Grand Final.
Brodie Croft scored his 17th of the season to open the lead before Chris Hankinson and Jarrod O’Connor stretched the lead to 18-0. Caleb Aekins’ try offered some resistance but the Rhinos would score another two before the half as McDonnell and Handley crossed over.
Handley got his second shortly after the half before an Ethan Ryan brace but the Leeds centre then turned provider with his offload assist for Jake Connor before forfeiting a certain try to pass to Maika Sivo and help his bid to break the season try-scoring record. Handley was then rewarded as he claimed a kick in the last second to score his third of the game, bringing up Leeds’ 50.
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Leeds Rhinos and Bradford Bulls talking points
Jake Connor injury scare
Leeds looked to be cruising to a comfortable win without any injury concerns and then 12 minutes from time, Jake Connor went down writhing in agony with a shoulder issue.
The reigning Man of Steel jumped out of the line and put in a strong tackle where he looked to get his angle wrong as he was left face down on the floor with his legs wriggling in pain.
A green card was shown to Connor and he did return to the field but had little to no involvement for the final ten minutes of the game.
Leeds picked up another injury concern as Ryan Hall left the field midway through the first half and was left with his foot in a boot, something that will be of big concern to the Rhinos.
Handley hits back
Less than 24 hours after pundit Jon Wilkin declared Umyla Hanley the best centre in Super League and his chosen starter alongside Herbie Farnworth at the World Cup, Leeds’ Ash Handley dropped a friendly reminder that he may well be the best centre in Super League.
He scored his 150th career try in the first half by powering over from 10 metres out before scoring a near carbon copy just minute into the second half, with both tries taken brilliantly before he got a gift for his hat-trick in the 80th minute. His offload assist for Jake Connor was another thing of beauty as the Leeds skipper showed off his talents.
There is of course a scenario where both Hanley and Handley play at the World Cup if Brian McDermott subscribes to the belief that Herbie Farnworth would be best used at full-back in a bid to get his hands on the ball more, however, Jake Wardle might have plenty to say about that.
Proof that Magic must change
Whilst rivalry games have certainly helped Super League break their record attendance at Magic Weekend, the results so far have suggested that the concept simply doesn’t work in terms of competitive games. Of course, you can never predict the form of teams when they come into Magic Weekend but by picking derby games you do create mismatches and this was one.
So too is the Hull derby with KR having won the last eight of those, whilst Wakefield are also streets ahead of Castleford at the moment. Of the first six games at Magic Weekend, every game has been won by 12 points or more and the closest of those was York’s win over Huddersfield, and the Giants scored 12 of their own points simply as a consolation.
Six games in and the average winning margin is 27 points with three games being won by 34 points or more. Perhaps that’s a reflection on the quality of Super League but a return to the old Magic Weekend format that was based on league finishings would surely help prevent one-sided blowouts. Last year saw three of the six games won by just two points highlighting the value of that system.
Bradford’s 10-minute burst
Leeds led 30-4 at half time and the game looked wrapped up but Bradford put them under threat in the second half as they ripped the Rhinos apart with Ethan Ryan bagging two tries, his 99th and 100th in a Bradford shirt.
Joe Mellor thought he’d scored as well but saw his ruled out as the Bulls exposed a weakness in the Rhinos that will surely leave Brad Arthur fuming despite the fact his side scored 40 points.
Kurt Haggerty knows his side can attack and today was further proof of it but they’re still yet to win away from Odsal, something they could rectify on Friday when they travel to take on a hapless Huddersfield side.
Sivo almost silenced with his record under threat
Approaching the final 10 minutes of the game, it looked like Maika Sivo would not score for the first time since the Good Friday clash against Bradford Bulls.
The Fijian flyer was on a nine-game scoring streak with his tally at 27 tries in Super League and he managed to add to that late on as Ash Handley forfeited an easy try to pass to Sivo and ensure his record remained intact.
Whilst Sivo has broken the club Super League record for tries in consecutive games, Chris Hankinson is now chasing him down.
The versatile 32-year-old has now scored in six games in a row and with Ryan Hall limping off injured, it could be the case that Hankinson moves to the wing from next week onwards, thus creating a better opportunity to keep up his impressive scoring rate.
Leeds Rhinos run riot against Bradford Bulls to go four points clear at the top of the table! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/hDFVoy96LP
— Sky Sports (@SkySports) July 5, 2026
