Leeds thrash Hull FC to dent hosts’ play-off hopes

Betfred Super League

Hull FC (0) 0

Leeds (24) 34

With a 34-0 victory over Hull FC, the Leeds Rhinos stomped out their rivals’ chances of winning the Super League play-off spot.

When Ryan Hall made his 400th Super League appearance, Leeds took the lead, but Kallum Watkins dotted down to give him another advantage.

With a score of 24-20 at half-time, Leeds led by Jake Connor and Morgan Gannon, and Brodie Croft followed suit after the break.

To cap off a memorable performance and an 80-minute forgettable for the hosts, James McDonnell crashed in for Leeds’ sixth try late on.

After a 22-minute attrition, Hall was finally able to break the deadlock when Leeds found space on the wing, but they were not finished there.

Watkins scored on the back of Croft’s high kick, which was rebounded into his path, causing him to quickly ground the ball.

Leeds’ first-half performance was enhanced by Connor’s long-range run-in shortly after, but there was controversy following Gannon’s score in the build-up.

When Croft attempted to pass a clear forward pass to Sam Lisone, the referee, Aaron Moore, did not spot it, and Leeds kept the ball alive with Connor’s clever cross sending Gannon cross over.

Just before the half-time hooter, in the middle of being grounded by Connor and an onrushing Joe Shorrocks, was a tackle on Hull FC prop Liam Watts reported.

In the run-up to his attempt, Croft capitalized on some outstanding work by Shorrocks, who had to offload some pressure to Jarrod O’Connor.

Max Simpson, who was making his first appearance since 2022 after a string of injury setbacks following a broken ankle, was stretchered off the field after a protracted delay.

John Cartwright, the manager of Hull FC:

It demonstrates the level of opposition that we faced. The rot began in the first 25 minutes, when we arguably had the better of the first 25 minutes.

“We had to be very close to perfect today, and we did just that with the ball in the first 25 minutes.” They capitalized on three errors, which we did, and it was done.

Brad Arthur, head coach of the Leeds Rhinos:

“On Max Simpson’s injury,” I’m not entirely sure, but they’re still reasonably certain that it’s all precautionary right now.

He appears to be having fun. You’d anticipate that we would take safety with him because it was a pretty nasty collision. Although it’s unfortunate, there are still many chances that he’ll be fine and on his way.

The boys showed plenty of character in the first 10 or 15 minutes, but I thought we were a little flat and tired and didn’t have the same energy levels as we had been.

Ashworth, Fash, Laidlaw, and Briscoe are exchanges.

Leeds: Oledzki, Gannon, McDonnell, Watkins, Hall, Newman, Simpson, Hankinson, Croft, Cassell, O’Connor, O’Connor, Oledzki, Gannon, Gannon, McDonnell, and Hall.

Bentley, Lisone, Jenkins, Shorrocks, and others.