Super League: Hull KR 20-28 Leeds Rhinos - visitors boost play-off hopes

Leeds came from behind to strengthen their Super League play-off hopes with victory over fellow hopefuls Hull KR.

Both sides scored three tries apiece in the first half, but Zak Hardaker's three goals ensured the visitors led 18-14 at the break.

Morgan Gannon added two scores to Brad Dwyer and Richie Myler tries to build on Leeds' advantage.

Sam Wood's consolation score came after Matt Parcell, Ryan Hall and Kane Linnett touched down in the first half.

With such a congested race for the top six, featuring two points between fifth and ninth with five rounds to play before kick-off, victory would set the winner up nicely.

Rohan Smith's side have now won six of their past seven games to hit form at a perfect time, while they also recorded their first win in East Hull since 2018.

However, the loss of Cameron Smith and Bodene Thompson during the game limited their options in the pack, while another hamstring injury for Harry Newman is a major blow going forward.

This result, in such adversity, saw some sparkling football after a brilliant Rovers start, which saw Parcell sneak over in trademark fashion and two Jez Litten grubbers finished off by Hall and Linnett.

First Dwyer scorched through to put Leeds on the board, before Myler and Blake Austin combined to deliver two scores on the left edge.

Not even Mikolaj Oledzki's sin-binning could quell the Rhinos, as Gannon finished off a beautiful sweeping move from one sideline to the other to extend the lead.

The same player swooped on a Sam Wood spill to give Leeds daylight, rendering Wood's late score academic as the home support gathered momentum.

Leeds head coach Rohan Smith:

"It was a brave performance. We had people playing everywhere, but everyone dug in and I think we were pretty calm throughout.

"Of course I'm proud of this squad. When you come in mid-season, you don't know exactly what you're going to get, but I felt I'd done enough research to know the situation wasn't too bad despite how it looked from the outside.

"Perhaps I got here at the right time, as the group was already a good one, but it stems from work in pre-season and everywhere in between. It's not all about the last couple of months."

Robins coach Danny McGuire:

"We've got some really busted bodies and I'm honestly not sure how we're going to put a team together next week. We had a joke in the changing room about who wants to play half-back.

"Jez Litten was unbelievable tonight in that role and I don't think he gets the recognition he deserves. I think he is good enough to play for England in a few years.

"I don't know what the rules are about emergency signings or loans, but if I could play with these boys next week I would.

"I love this group and would be there with them if I could, and I know Brett Delaney and Dave Hodgson would be right behind me."

Hull KR: Ryan; Crooks, Wood, Kenny-Dowall, Hall; Litten, Minchella; Storton, Parcell, King, Linnett, Halton, Keinhorst.

Interchanges: Maher, Richards, Tate, Laulu-Togaga'e.

Leeds: Hardaker; Tindall, Newman, Sutcliffe, Handley; Smith, Myler; Tetevano, Dwyer, Oledzki, Thompson, Gannon, O'Connor.

Interchanges: Austin, Johnson, Mustapha, Walters.

Sin-bin: Oledzki (56).

Referee: Jack Smith.