After the other Qualifiers results over the weekend the Rhinos travelled to winless Halifax in the knowledge that while a win wouldn’t guarantee them Super League in 2019, a big win would get them within touching distance as they prepare to take on Toronto Wolfpack in the last round.
A loss for the Rhinos, unthinkable for football manager Sinfield and their travelling fans, could conceivably see them ending up in the dreaded Million Pound Game.
Halifax, already out of the promotion equasion were simply there to be a thorn in the Rhinos side and hoped to inflict as much pain as they could on their old enemy.
The game was just four minutes old when Richie Myler grounded a Joel Moon kick through for the Rhinos opener. Liam Sutcliffe added the extras himself for the perfect Rhinos start.
The Rhinos had a number of opportunities over the next minutes but a combination of some clumsy handling, and good ‘Fax defence kept them at bay. Jacob Fairbank went close for the home side but he spilled the ball on the line. After some good Halifax pressure Steve Tyrer found his way over the line on the last tackle after taking a cross-field kick. He converted his own to tie the scores at 6-6 after thirty minutes.
It wasn’t going to plan for the Rhinos, what should have been a walk in the park against the Qualifiers whipping boys was turning into a nightmare with the sides all tied up at half time.
Two minutes after the kick-off ‘Fax lost the ball in their own twenty and two plays into the set Brad Dwyer went over from acting half-back to ground. Sutcliffe added the conversion to quieten the home supporters.
Dwyer got his second try on forty-nine with a carbon copy try as he scooted over from acting half-back as Halifax bought the dummy and allowed him in under the uprights. Sutcliffe added the conversion for 18-6.
A thirty metre walk-in for Liam Sutcliffe, and his subsequent conversion, put the Rhinos into a 24-6 lead, the points almost in the bag. The gutsy Halifax challenge seemed to be over.
After repeated infringements Halifax were put on a team warning, but settled down.
Cameron Smith scored Leeds fifth try on sixty-nine minutes and Sutcliffe added the conversion for 30-6, a score line which didn’t do Halifax’s efforts credit. Two minutes later Smith found a gap and then passed wide to Luke Briscoe to go over. Sutcliffe missed his first conversion attempt of the afternoon, the Rhinos 34-6 ahead.
When Ben Heaton was sin binned on seventy-eight for a high tackle it was the last real action of the game as the Rhinos sealed a strong second half performance.
It was a game of two halves for the Rhinos, the first in which they struggled against a brave Halifax side, the second in which they put their opponents to the sword. Leeds now top the Super Eights Qualifiers table with five wins and are now a league point away from the certainty of Super League next season. They know that anything but a thirty-two point, or more, loss at home to Toronto next Friday will see them safe, regardless of other results.
Halifax: Moss, Sharp, Butler, Tyrer (T, G), Woodburn-Hall, Murrell, Johnston, Fleming, Kaye, Fairbank, Grady, Tangata, Moore. Subs: Jones, Heaton, Davies, Maher.
Rhinos: Walker, Briscoe T, Keinhorst, Moon, Briscoe L (T), Myler (T), Sutcliffe (T, 5G), Singleton, Parcell, Crosby, Jones-Buchanan, Peteru, Thompson. Subs: Cuthbertson, Dwyer (2T), Smith (T), Walters.
Referee: Liam Moore.
Half-Time: 6-6.
Full-Time: 34-6.
Attendance: .
