Wakefield beat Leeds on Super League return

Betfred Super League

Leeds (6) 12

Tries: Newman, Lisone Goals: Connor 2

Wakefield (14) 14

Newly-promoted Wakefield Trinity survived a late scare to beat Leeds Rhinos at Headingley on their return to Super League.

Max Jowitt’s two first-half tries and another from Mason Lino ultimately did the damage in a stop-start game, with the video referee called on numerous occasions.

Harry Newman got the home side back in it and Sam Lisone crossed in the final minutes for a grandstand finish.

After a slow start, Wakefield burst into life and opened the scoring on 22 minutes. Lino’s crossfield kick was kept in play by Tom Johnstone before Jowitt and Corey Hall’s one-two allowed the former to cross the line. After a video referee check, Jowitt converted.

Jowitt added a second moments later after a superb drive forward and pass from Jake Trueman. He crossed in the corner but failed to add the extras this time.

Wakefield thought they had scored a third try in six minutes when Oli Pratt darted over the line but the video referee disallowed the try for a foul on Brodie Croft by Mike McMeeken.

Another video referee call awarded a third try of the half for Wakefield when Lino grounded the ball after a drop by Jake Connor as Leeds’ defensive errors were punished again. Jowitt pulled his kick wide for a second failed conversion.

Leeds got onto the scoresheet after the video referee overturned the on-field decision when Newman got Croft’s bouncing kick down. Connor converted as the hooter went for half-time.

Wakefield attacked in waves in the second half and Leeds were asked yet more defensive questions. Home winger Ryan Hall’s last-ditch tackle denied his namesake Corey on the line.

As the match wore on, Wakefield retreated but consistently managed to stem Leeds’ threat before Lino was sent to the bin for a high tackle with 16 minutes remaining.

Leeds Rhinos coach Brad Arthur told BBC Radio Leeds: “We were a bit erratic; we lacked calmness and composure.

“We probably worked too hard as individuals to make things happen instead of working together as a team. We had big moments which put us under pressure.

“The occasion got to us and we didn’t handle it as well as they did. Some guys tried too hard, tried to do it on their own. We tried to chase the scoreboard a little bit.

“Our plan was to play how we needed to play. We gifted them field position; we did a lot of passing and moving around without much of a plan around it. We needed to exert pressure and earn it. We didn’t do that.”

Wakefield Trinity coach Daryl Powell told BBC Radio Leeds: “This is a phenomenal group, really good blokes who want to do something special. It is an awesome foundation, and we did special things today.

“We executed really well first half. We played them on Boxing Day and got some tips from that. Our decision-making was very good; our spine was phenomenal and completely dominated the game.

Leeds: Connor, Lumb, Handley, Newman, Hall, Croft, Frawley, Oledzki, Ackers, Palasia, Bentley, McDonnell, Smith

Interchanges: Lisone, Holroyd, Gannon, Edgell

Wakefield: Jowitt, Russell, Pratt, Hall, Johnstone, Trueman, Lino, McMeeken, Hood, Hamlin-Uele, Croft, Storton, Pitts

Interchanges: Russell, Doyle, Vagana, Faatili

Sin-bin: Lino (64)