Hull KR finish second as Leeds play-off hopes ended

Betfred Super League

Hull KR (10) 26

Tries: Parcell, Hiku, Opacic, Sue, Burgess Goals: Lewis 3

Leeds (10) 16

Tries: Martin, Edgell, Ackers Goals: Martin 2

Hull KR overcame a nervy first-half performance to secure second place in Super League with a win which ended Leeds Rhinos' hopes of making the play-offs.

Rovers knew that defeat in the final match of the regular season would let in Warrington Wolves, who were busy thumping London Broncos 54-0 to overhaul the Robins' points difference.

Willie Peters' side twice went behind to the Rhinos as Rhyse Martin and Alfie Edgell went over but tries from Matt Parcell and Peta Hiku levelled it by half-time.

Tom Opacic, Sauaso Sue and Joe Burgess crossed after the break to make sure Rovers go straight through to the semi-final with home advantage.

Leeds could not sustain a strong first-half effort but they had the consolation of scoring the final try through Andy Ackers.

Robins set a new average attendance record for the season with a crowd of more than 9,000 but they were silenced as Leeds defended staunchly for the opening quarter and then took the lead.

Martin was playing his last game for the Rhinos before a move to Craven Park next year, and he showed the home fans what they can expect with a sharp finish following a fine Brodie Croft run as well as later adding two conversions.

Parcell's try and Mikey Lewis' conversion edged Robins ahead but 20-year-old Leeds full-back Edgell threw a great dummy to step over and put the visitors back in front, with Martin adding the extras.

The home side were without the suspended Elliot Minchella and full-back Niall Evalds, who failed a head-injury assessment last week, but they levelled the score just before half-time as Edgell dropped a high Lewis bomb and Hiku gratefully snapped up the gift.

Rovers were in no mood to let it slip in the second half as Lewis danced past two opponents and set up Opacic to put them ahead.

Ryan Hall thought he had another only for it to be ruled out for obstruction in the build-up, but Rovers were not to be denied as Sue crashed under the posts and winger Burgess added another.

Lewis sharpened up his kicking to convert both to ensure Ackers' late score for Leeds was academic, as Rovers made it 10 wins from their final 11 regular season games.

Hull KR coach Willie Peters said:

“I’m really proud to finish second in the competition the way it is, but that competition is finished now and we’ve got a new one that we’ve got to focus on.

“I think you’ve got to celebrate the little wins along the way. We’re happy but we’re not content and we want to go on and do something special now, because we’re in a position to do that and we’re not where we want to be.

“We were lucky to go in at half-time at 10-10 – we could have been 10 or 12 points behind.

“There was some nervous energy tonight but I like to think in a fortnight’s time the fans will have the belief that we’ll be able to go out and do a job again."

Leeds Rhinos head coach Brad Arthur told BBC Radio Leeds:

“The second half was disappointing. At the start of that half we beat ourselves. The effort was there.

“I told the boys that in the 10 games [he has been in charge] they have really had a crack and tried to do the right things but there are games we’ve made tough for ourselves. Against good teams we’ve turned over too much good possession early in the second half.

“There were errors from the back three, but how can I be critical? They’re kids learning their trade, the effort was there and they did a really good job. It’s part of the experience they will get.”

Hull KR: Broadbent, Burgess, Hiku, Opacic, Hall, May, Lewis, Sue, Parcell, Whitbread, Storton, Batchelor, Hadley.

Interchanges: Litten, King, Luckley, Brown.

Leeds: Edgell, Lumb, Newman, Momirovski, Roberts, Croft, Frawley, Oledzki, Ackers, Sangare, McDonnell, Martin, Smith.

Interchanges: O'Connor, Lisone, Bentley, Donaldson.

Referee: Jack Smith.