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1 hour ago
Betfred Super League
Hull FC (0) 0
Leeds (24) 34
Tries: Hall, Watkins, Connor, Gannon, Croft, McDonnell Goals: Connor 5
Leeds Rhinos stormed their way to a 34-0 thrashing of Hull FC to put a dent in their opponents’ Super League play-off hopes.
Ryan Hall touched down for Leeds on his 400th Super League appearance to send the visitors ahead and they edged further in front soon after when Kallum Watkins dotted down.
Jake Connor and Morgan Gannon got on the scoresheet as Leeds led 24-0 at half-time and Brodie Croft picked up where they left off after the break.
James McDonnell crashed in for Leeds’ sixth try late on to cap off a momentous performance and an 80 minutes to forget for the hosts.
The result lifts Leeds to third in Super League and level on points with second-placed Wigan, while Hull FC remain sixth but could drop to seventh depending on Wakefield’s result against Huddersfield later on Saturday.
Hall finally broke the deadlock after an attritional opening 22 minutes when he was played through as Leeds found space on the wing – but they were not done there.
Watkins’ score came off the back of a high kick in-goal from Croft, which was rebounded into his path, leaving him to react quickly to ground the ball.
Connor added some shine to Leeds’ first-half showing thanks to his long-range run-in shortly after but there was controversy to come in the build-up to Gannon’s score.
Croft played what looked to be a clear forward pass to Sam Lisone which was not spotted by referee Aaron Moore and, in the aftermath, Leeds kept the ball alive with Connor’s neat kick sending Gannon through to cross over.
A tackle on Hull FC prop Liam Watts was put on report just before the half-time hooter, in the midst of being grounded by Connor and an onrushing Joe Shorrocks.
Croft’s try came off the back of some fantastic work by Shorrocks to offload under pressure to Jarrod O’Connor in the lead-up to him going in under the posts.
Leeds suffered a blow as Max Simpson – who was making his first appearance since 2022 after a succession of injury setbacks following a fractured ankle – was stretchered off the field after a lengthy delay.
McDonnell showed great strength to get to the line with just under 10 minutes remaining to add some shine to Leeds’ performance while Hull FC offered little over the course of the match to respond to their opponents’ dominance.
Hull FC: Hardaker; Barron, Rapana, Litten, Martin; Cust, Sezer; Ese’ese, Bourouh, Watts, Chamberlain, Lane, Aydin.
Interchanges: Briscoe, Ashworth, Fash, Laidlaw.
Leeds: Miller; Hall, Newman, Simpson, Hankinson; Croft, Connor; Cassell, O’Connor, Oledzki, Gannon, McDonnell, Watkins.
Interchanges: Shorrocks, Bentley, Lisone, Jenkins.
Referee: Aaron Moore.
