Betfred Super League Round 16
AMT Headingley
Friday 27 June 2025 (8pm)
Leeds Rhinos 48-30 Leigh Leopards
Leopards were leapfrogged by the Rhinos and dropped down to fourth in the Betfred Super League after a 14-try spectacular at AMT Headingley.
Eight tries to six was the final tally in the Rhinos’ favour, several of them contenders for try of the season, the best an individual classic from veteran Kallum Watkins for the home side.
For Leopards, Keanan Brand scored a fine hat-trick, his first in Super League, showing exceptional finishing skills on the right.
Isaac Liu’s power and determination thar saw him evade for defenders for a brilliant individual effort; tries by Gareth O’Brien and Umyla Hanley, both superbly crafted by Ben McNamara, were other highlights.
Leopards now regroup ready for the third Battle of the Borough as Wigan Warriors visit the Leopards Den on Friday, the start of a sequence of eight home games in the last 11 which will determine their season.
Leopards’ defeat, their first in four away games, came at a cost with injuries to David Armstrong, Darnell McIntosh and Robbie Mulhern.
Defensively they were far from their best as Rhinos halves Jake Connor and Brodie Croft crafted some fine moves and tested the Leopards defence with varied kicks.
Leopards trailed 24-10 at the break crucially conceding a fourth try, scored by Harry Newman, just 25 seconds from the hooter after pressing the home line.
Rhinos ruthlessly fed off Leopards’ inability to defend their errors, notably when Lachlan Miller raced 70 metres to score after a ball went to ground.
The second half saw the teams go try for try, four apiece with Connor’s exemplary goalkicking taking the home side close to 50.
Rhinos, on this evidence, looked very good but after the draining trip to France Leopards’ energy levels were depleted. Seven days of solid preparation will get the Leopards back to their usual high standards next Friday.
Rhinos
Lachlan Miller; Ryan Hall, Harry Newman, Ash Handley, Alfie Edgell; Jake Connor, Brodie Croft; Cooper Jenkins, Jarrod O’Connor, Mikolay Oledzki, James McDonnell, Kallum Watkins, Keenan Palasia
Bench:
Tom Holroyd, Sam Lisone, Jack Sinfield, Cameron Smith. 18th player: Presley Cassell (not used)
Tries:
Watkins (5, 54), Miller (16), Smith (32), Newman (40, 51), Holroyd (65), Oledzki (73)
Goals:
Connor 8/ 8
Leopards
David Armstrong; Keanan Brand, Umyla Hanley, Tesi Niu, Darnell McIntosh; Gareth O’Brien, Lachlan Lam; Joe Ofahengaue, Edwin Ipape, Robbie Mulhern, Owen Trout, Frankie Halton, Isaac Liu
Bench:
Ben McNamara, Matty Davis, Jack Hughes, Ethan O’Neill. 18th player: Bailey Hodgson (not used)
Tries:
Liu (11), Brand (24, 63, 69), O’Brien (44), Hanley (76)
Goals:
O’Brien 2/ 5, McNamara 1/ 1
Scoring sequence:
6-0, 6-6, 12-6, 12-10, 18-10, 24-10 (ht) 24-14, 30-14, 36-14, 36-20, 42-20, 42-24, 48-24, 48-30
Referee: Liam Moore; Touch judges: R Cox & D Bowmer; Reserve referee: O Taylor
Video referee: Chris Kendall; Timekeeper: Andrew Hardcastle; M Com: D Milburn
Penalty count: 2-3
Attendance: 14,338
