Super League: Leeds Rhinos move top by mauling Toronto Wolfpack with 11 tries
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Betfred Super League |
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Leeds (36) 66 |
Tries: Dwyer, Myler, Gale 2, Lui 2, Handley, Smith, Oledzki, Cuthbertson, Hurrell Goals: Martin 11 |
Toronto (6) 12 |
Tries: McCrone, Wells Goals: O'Brien 2 |
Leeds produced an 11-try demolition of Toronto to move top of the Super League with their fourth straight victory.
It took just four minutes for Leeds to score through hooker Brad Dwyer before Richie Myler went under the posts.
Dwyer sent Luke Gale over, Robert Lui crossed twice and Ash Handley also touched down all before half-time.
Cameron Smith scored Leeds first try after the break before tries for Mikolaj Oledzki, Gale's second, Adam Cuthbertson and Konrad Hurrell.
It all added up to a miserable night for Toronto head coach Brian McDermott on his first return to Leeds, the club he led to four Super League titles during his eight years in charge at Headingley.
His side's losing run since promotion extended to five matches as their defence had little answer to the lively, varied attack by the home side.
The visitors enjoyed their best period of the match - indeed, their only positive period - in the 10 minutes after half-time where they fronted up much better in defence to keep Leeds out and, after forcing a penalty, Josh McCrone created space for Jack Wells to score their second try.
But from the restart, Toronto knocked on, Cameron Smith powered his way over and the game resumed the pattern of the opening 40 minutes.
It was during the first half that Leeds scored the pick of their tries. Right on the half-time hooter, a chip up the right wing was splendidly gathered in by Harry Newman and he offloaded for Handley to go over for Leeds' sixth first-half try.
But the biggest cheer of the night was saved for two minutes from time when Dwyer broke into space and sent Hurrell, the Tonga international who danced live on television after his side's victory over Warrington, galloping under the posts.
Leeds coach Richard Agar:
"We were good with the ball. We had a bit of a flat spot at the start of the second half but some of the tries were great to watch.
"We've played a team at the bottom and they're doing it tough, so we're not going to get carried away.
"We've got a big month coming up and we're going to get some fairly strong challenges over the next three weeks."
Toronto head coach Brian McDermott:
"We've got to find out just how bad we can be and that was bad but it wasn't without its moments.
"They still kept fighting. The Rhinos were white-hot with the ball. Every time we tried to make it a contest, they were just too good.
"We're clearly having a rough run at the moment. We're not getting the bounce of the ball and we're clearly not good enough in defence."
Leeds Rhinos: Myler; Handley, Hurrell, Newman, L Briscoe; Lui, Gale; Oledzki, Dwyer, Seumanufagai, Martin, Mellor, Prior.
Interchanges: McLelland, Donaldson, Smith, Cuthbertson.
Toronto Wolfpack: Gigot; Kay, Miloudi, Leutele, Russell; O'Brien, McCrone; Sidlow, Ackers, Springer, Thompson, Williams, Wilkin.
Interchanges: Mullally, Olbison, Wallace, Wells.
Sin-bin: McCrone.
Referee: Liam Moore