Betfred Super League
Fri 19th Apr 2024 KO: 20:00 RD: 8
OFFICIAL: Christopher Paul KENDALL
Leeds Rhinos
24 30
HT: 12-2
Huddersfield Giants
Tries
Paul Momirovski x2
David Fusitu’a
Jarrod O’Connor
Kevin Naiqama
Esan Marsters
Elliot Wallis
Adam Swift
Harvey Livett
Adam Clune
Goals
R.Martin x4
Jake Connor x3
-
Full Back
1
Lachlan
Miller
-
Right Wing
2
David
Fusitu'a
TRIES
1 PTS
4 -
Right Centre
3
Harry
Newman
-
Left Centre
4
Paul
Momirovski
TRIES
2 PTS
8 -
Left Wing
5
Luis
Roberts
-
Stand Off
6
Brodie
Croft
-
Scrum Half
7
Matt
Frawley
-
Prop
8
Mikolaj
Oledzki
-
Hooker
9
Andy
Ackers
-
Prop
10
Justin
Sangare
-
Second Row
11
James
McDonnell
-
Second Row
12
Rhyse
Martin
GOALS
4 PTS
8 -
Loose Forward
13
Cameron
Smith
-
Int 1
14
Jarrod
O'Connor
TRIES
1 PTS
4 -
Int 2
15
Tom
Nicholson-Watton
-
Int 3
16
Sam
Lisone
-
Int 4
17
Mickael
Goudemand
-
Jake
Connor
GOALS
3 PTS
6 -
Adam
Swift
TRIES
1 PTS
4 -
Esan
Marsters
TRIES
1 PTS
4 -
Kevin
Naiqama
TRIES
1 PTS
4 -
Elliot
Wallis
TRIES
1 PTS
4 -
Tuimoala
Lolohea
-
Adam
Clune
TRIES
1 PTS
4 -
Matty
English
-
Adam
Milner
-
Joe
Greenwood
-
Harvey
Livett
TRIES
1 PTS
4 -
Leroy
Cudjoe
-
Luke
Yates
-
Ashton
Golding
-
Sebastine
Ikahihifo
-
Harry
Rushton
-
Oliver
Wilson
In a second half that saw both sides go blow for blow, Leeds Rhinos lost out 30-24 to Huddersfield Giants at AMT Headingley in a frustrating night.
The Rhinos took a ten point lead into the break, courtesy of tries from Paul Momirovski and the returning David Fusitu'a, but Ian Watson's side fought back in the second half to score four tries in ten minutes to take the win.
Team News
With an extra week’s preparation for the visit of the Giants, head coach Rohan Smith welcomed back Justin Sangare to the starting lineup in place of Tom Holroyd, who was ruled out as he completes his return to play protocol.
David Fusitu’a also made his first appearance of the season alongside Harry Newman as the Tongan international featured for the first time since the end of 2023. Luis Roberts swapped wings to partner Paul Momirovski in the absence of Ash Handley with a rib injury.
Tom Nicholson-Watton was named on the bench after a spell with York RLFC Knights in the Championship. He was one of four forwards named on the bench alongside Sam Lisone, Jarrod O’Connor and Mickael Goudemand.
Huddersfield’s only change to the starting lineup saw Harvey Livett come into the back row in place of Jack Murchie. Oliver Wilson was named on the bench after missing the trip to Catalans last week too.
1st Half
It was a tight arm wrestle in the opening minutes, which had become accustomed to this fixture in recent meetings. The Rhinos looked to use their home advantage
16 minutes in, the home side managed to break the deadlock thanks to Paul Momirovski. The opportunity arose thanks to Rhyse Martin, who managed to break through a seam in the Giants defence and race into the backfield. Although he was caught before he made it to the line, Leeds remained composed and a shift to the edge saw Momirovski break the line and score.
The Rhinos continued to apply pressure to keep the Giants on their toes; particularly when Luke Yates was sent to the sin bin midway through the half. Harry Newman had the best of the chances for the Rhinos as James McDonnell smuggled a pass away for the centre, but Huddersfield’s slide defence put the centre down.
Tensions remained high as the first half continued but luckily for Leeds, they managed to take their lead to a two-score advantage in the shape of David Fusitu’a. On his return to the line-up, the winger was quick to react to Croft’s grubber kick through as it sat up just right for Fusitu’a to plant down before the ball went out of play.
Huddersfield were handed a lifeline as the half expired in the shape of a penalty goal. A high tackle was pulled up by referee Chris Kendall, and the decision was quick to take the two points as the clock wound down. Connor stepped up to convert, making the score 12-2 at the break.
2nd Half
For the lack of tries in the opening 40 minutes, the second half was try-filled for both teams.
Five minutes into the new half, the Giants got the rewards from forcing Leeds to kick from deep as quick hads from Connor and Clune put Marsters in space, and the centre stepped inside Fusitu’a to touchdown.
It was soon back to back scores as Elliot Wallis on the opposite wing got over for the try. Sebastine Ikahihifo proved tough to stop from the restart as the substitute forward fended off Leeds defenders before feed Adam Swift down the wing. With the winger outpacing Fusitu’a down towards the Rhinos try line, cover defence caught up to stop Swift from scoring but one play later, quick hands shifted the ball right and Wallis was able to finish in the corner to make the score 12-12; Connor missing the conversion attempt.
The half took a quick turn in favour of the Rhinos after the 50 minute mark as the game started to open up. A knock on by Oliver Wilson gifted Leeds the ball deep in their opponent’s half, and Momirovski made the away side pay as he finished smartly in the corner to edge the Rhinos ahead by six again.
No sooner had they got one try, the lead was extended back to twelve points as Jarrod O’Connor got his first try of the season. Despite having to re-jig the lineup as both Fusitu’a and Newman exited the field for the remainder of the match, the home side made good use of a penalty to gain ground upfield before a smart pass from Frawley found O’Connor running a good line for the Leeds man to touch down. Martin’s night with the boot continued to be successful to take the score to 24-12.
As the game entered the final 20 minutes, another turn of fate saw Huddersfield bring the game back into the balance with three consecutive tries. Marsters proved tough for the Leeds defence, now made up of Momirovski on the wing and McDonnell at makeshift centre, as the Cook Islands international found himself short of the line, and quick thinking from Swift saw him dart out of dummy half and beat both Leeds men to touch down in the corner.
Another Swift and Marsters combination led to Harvey Livett scoring a minute later, and off the back of a knock on from Luis Roberts, Naiqama levelled the score with nine minutes to go.
The Rhinos took a blow when Miller’s goal line drop out didn’t go the required ten metres, and Connor stepped up to slot the penalty goal as time faded away.
In need of a try, the Rhinos tried desperately to shift the Giants defence around the field, but a mistimed pass from Smith proved to be the home side’s undoing as Clune ran the length of the field to win it 30-24 for the visitors.
Match Facts
Rhinos
1. Lachlan Miller, 2. David Fusitu’a, 3. Harry Newman, 4. Paul Momirovski, 24. Luis Roberts, 6. Brodie Croft, 7. Matt Frawley, 8. Mikolaj Oledzki, 9. Andy Ackers, 17. Justin Sangare, 16. James McDonnell, 12. Rhyse Martin, 13. Cameron Smith
Subs: 15. Sam Lisone, 30. Tom Nicholson-Watton,14. Jarrod O’Connor, 18. Mickael Goudemand (18th Man – 29. Alfie Edgell)
Tries: Momirovski (16, 52), Fusitu’a (33), O’Connor (57)
Goals: Martin 4/4
Sin Bin: Miller (79) - Dissent
Giants
1. Jake Connor, 2. Adam Swift, 3. Esan Marsters, 4. Kevin Naiqama, 20. Elliot Wallis, 6. Tui Lolohea, 7. Adam Clune, 15. Matty English, 9. Adam Milner, 10. Joe Greenwood, 21. Leroy Cudjoe, 22. Harvey Livett, 13. Luke Yates
Subs: 14. Ashton Golding, 17. Oliver Wilson, 16. Harry Rushton, 18. Sebastine Ikahihifo (18th Man – 23. Oliver Russell)
Tries: Marsters (45), Wallis (47), Swift (66), Livett (67), Naiqama (71), Clune (76)
Goals: Connor 2/7
Sin Bin: Yates (32)
79 mins
CARD
Yellow card for Leeds Rhinos
Lachlan Miller Sin Bin
79 mins
GOAL
scored for by
Jake Connor
79 mins
TRY
Try scored for Huddersfield Giants by
Adam Clune
76 mins
GOAL
scored for by
Jake Connor
74 mins
INT
Interchange for Leeds Rhinos
Justin Sangare OFF
74 mins
INT
Interchange for Leeds Rhinos
Thomas Nicholson-Watton OFF
72 mins
GOAL
scored for by
Jake Connor
71 mins
TRY
Try scored for Huddersfield Giants by
Kevin Naiqama
68 mins
GOAL
scored for by
Jake Connor
67 mins
TRY
Try scored for Huddersfield Giants by
Harvey Livett
66 mins
GOAL
scored for by
Jake Connor
65 mins
TRY
Try scored for Huddersfield Giants by
Adam Swift
60 mins
INT
Interchange for Leeds Rhinos
Mikolaj Oledzki OFF
60 mins
INT
Interchange for Leeds Rhinos
Sam Lisone OFF
59 mins
INT
Interchange for Huddersfield Giants
Oliver Wilson OFF
59 mins
INT
Interchange for Huddersfield Giants
Sebastine Ikahihifo OFF
58 mins
GOAL
scored for by
Rhyse Martin
57 mins
TRY
Try scored for Leeds Rhinos by
Jarrod O'Connor
52 mins
GOAL
scored for by
Rhyse Martin
52 mins
TRY
Try scored for Leeds Rhinos by
Paul Momirovski
49 mins
GOAL
scored for by
Jake Connor
48 mins
INT
Interchange for Leeds Rhinos
David Fusitua OFF
48 mins
INT
Interchange for Leeds Rhinos
Harry Newman OFF
48 mins
TRY
Try scored for Huddersfield Giants by
Elliot Wallis
47 mins
GOAL
scored for by
Jake Connor
46 mins
TRY
Try scored for Huddersfield Giants by
Esan Marsters
39 mins
GOAL
scored for by
Jake Connor
34 mins
GOAL
scored for by
Rhyse Martin
33 mins
TRY
Try scored for Leeds Rhinos by
David Fusitua
29 mins
CARD
Yellow card for Huddersfield Giants
Luke Yates Sin Bin
28 mins
INT
Interchange for Leeds Rhinos
Mikolaj Oledzki OFF
27 mins
INT
Interchange for Huddersfield Giants
Adam Milner OFF
21 mins
INT
Interchange for Huddersfield Giants
Matty English OFF
21 mins
INT
Interchange for Huddersfield Giants
Joe Greenwood OFF
20 mins
INT
Interchange for Leeds Rhinos
Justin Sangare OFF
17 mins
GOAL
scored for by
Rhyse Martin
16 mins
TRY
Try scored for Leeds Rhinos by
Paul Momirovski