Brad Arthur’s men turn on the style to sink Hull KR 34-8 as Jake Connor helps himself to an 18-point individual haul at Headingley; York score three second-half tries to beat Castleford 20-14
Last Updated: 26/06/26 11:14pm
Jake Connor was at the centre of helping Leeds produce a statement victory against Hull KR
Leeds strengthened their position at the Betfred Super League summit after delivering another crushing win over defending champions Hull KR at Headingley.
Eight days after slaying fellow title rivals Warrington by a similar margin, Brad Arthur’s men turned on the style to sink the Robins 34-8 as Jake Connor helped himself to an 18-point individual haul.
Coupled with another brace from Maika Sivo, it added up to an emphatic statement of intent from the hosts who doled out more misery on their opponents after their 58-6 demolition during their last meeting in Las Vegas in February.
Played out in front of their biggest Super League crowd in six years, it felt doubly poignant given the tributes paid to the Rhinos’ last Grand Final winner, Rob Burrow, before kick-off as part of the club’s MND Awareness Fixture.
“We spoke earlier in the week about being brave for Rob and his family, and I thought we were extremely brave tonight,” said Arthur.
“We really dominated in collision – they got stuck into it and we withstood it and pushed through the other side. We did a couple of dumb things at times but it makes us exciting to watch and hard to defend against.
“I still think there’s plenty left to improve, but we’ve got to be happy with that. We rolled our sleeves up and made tough choices about our effort and physicality. It was important tonight that we reflected Rob and his family because they’re brave people.”
Rovers had been second best for most of a fractious first half, but it was an uncharacteristic error from Mikey Lewis just past the half-hour mark that helped swing the tie heavily in Leeds’ favour.
Lewis’ kick to touch fell short and was acrobatically kept in play by Connor, who moments later delivered the neat kick through from which Chris Hankinson scored the game’s first try.
Until that moment Rovers had rallied in the face of increasing adversity which began in the opening six minutes when front-row pair Dean Hadley and Tom Amone were forced off for assessments after clashing heads.
Amone eventually returned to help ease the mounting pressure on the Rovers line, former Rhino Rhyse Martin cancelling out Connor’s early penalty as referee Chris Kendall struggled to prevent tempers from fraying.
Sivo was denied a trademark try in the corner by a brilliant saving tackle from Tevita Pangai Junior, then Martin stopped James McDonnell as the Rovers line was pummelled with repeat sets.
Connor’s second kick nudged Leeds back in front and set up their stirring finish to the half, with Sivo adding to Chris Hankinson’s effort after Connor’s deflected pass dropped conveniently into his hands.
It meant Sivo scored in his club record-equalling ninth consecutive Super League game, with his 26th try of the season – already eclipsing last season’s highest total of 25 by Hull FC’s Lewis Martin.
To compound Rovers’ misery, Connor kicked his first-half tally into double figures and Martin was sin-binned on the stroke of the interval for holding down in the ruck.
The visitors were under the cosh again at the start of the second half and moments after Danny Levi was denied the Rhinos’ third by the tightest of margins, Sivo stepped inside Peta Hiku and popped down his second.
Rovers showed flickers of fight when Noah Booth darted over in the corner, but Connor capped another superb individual performance when he strode over for Leeds’ fourth try just before the hour mark, after the Rovers defence moved en masse in the expectation of a Sivo hat-trick.
Connor limped off after helping serve up a fifth Leeds try for Ash Handley, but their fifth straight Super League win was long since done and dusted.
York rally to win at Castleford with three second-half tries
Oli Field celebrates at full-time as York came from behind to beat Castleford
York scored three second-half tries as they came from behind to beat Castleford 20-14.
The Knights led early when Semi Valemei crossed in the corner but the hosts edged ahead at the OneBore Stadium when Cody Hunter crashed over from close range for a self-converted try.
Castleford extended their advantage to 10-6 before the interval as Jason Qareqare – earlier on the receiving end of a crusher tackle from Sam Wood, who was sin-binned – scored out wide. Tom Weaver converted.
York rallied after the break and made their pressure tell when Oli Field touched down to level the scores and David Nofoaluma forced his way over for another just after the hour.
The Knights took a decisive lead when Scott Galeano pounced after Qareqare failed to claim a high kick.
Valemei grabbed a difficult bouncing ball to give the Tigers late hope by scoring his second, with Hunter again converting, but Qareqare’s last-gasp attempt in the corner was ruled out.
Qareqare was awarded a penalty for a high tackle after losing the ball as he dived for the line, but it was not enough to prevent the Tigers slipping to defeat.
Super League 2026 – upcoming key dates
- Magic Weekend: July 4-July 5
- Rivals Round reversed: July 23-July 26
- Elimination Play-offs: September 19-September 20
- Play-off semi-finals: September 26-September 27
- Grand Final: October 3
Sky Sports will show every game of the Super League live this season, including two matches each round exclusively live. The remaining five matches will be broadcast on Sky Sports+
