Super League: Wakefield 22-28 Leeds - Rhinos win Headingley derby thriller
- Published
Wakefield winger Tom Johnstone (second right) twice went almost the full length of the field to score against Leeds at Emerald Headingley
Betfred Super League |
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Wakefield (16) 22 |
Tries: Johnstone 2, Senior, Ashurst Goals: Lino 3 |
Leeds (22) 28 |
Tries: L Briscoe, A Sutcliffe, Dwyer, Myler, Broadbent Goals: Martin 4 |
Leeds made a winning start to the new Super League season at Emerald Headingley as they came from 16-4 down to just edge out neighbours Wakefield in a superb game of nine tries.
Wakefield winger Tom Johnstone scored the two best, both times going almost the full length of the field to score.
Innes Senior and Matty Ashurst also crossed to put Trinity in control.
But Alex Sutcliffe, Brad Dwyer, Richie Myler and Jack Broadbent all scored to add to Luke Briscoe's early try.
Boosted by the return of skipper Luke Gale, who had sustained a torn pectoral muscle on the opening day of pre-season, Leeds made a great start.
Full-back Myler's superb pass fed winger Briscoe to score in the left corner for Leeds' opener after just four minutes.
But jet-heeled winger Johnstone sparked Wakefield's fightback with the first of his two outstanding solo tries.
He went from close to his own line to score, fellow winger Senior somehow got over in the right corner and forward Ashurst also crossed - and, helped by two conversions from debutant signing Mason Lino, Wakefield were suddenly 16-4 up.
Leeds teenager Broadbent ran in his first Super League try for the club against Wakefield on only his fourth appearance
But three tries in 15 minutes from young centre Sutcliffe, experienced forward Dwyer and Myler, bolstered by three successful conversions for Rhyse Martin, turned it round to give Leeds the lead back by the break, at 22-16.
Within five minutes of the restart, Wakefield were level again when Gale's slightly loose crossfield kick veered slightly backwards off target, Johnstone claimed it and he was away to once more run almost the full full length of the field and score under the posts.
That tied it up again before highly-rated 19-year-old Broadbent breezed in on the right for his first try - on only his fourth appearance.
Martin missed the kick but did then add a late penalty to stretch the gap six points - and, despite a lot of late pressure, Trinity could find no more way through.
Wakefield Trinity coach Chris Chester:
"Tom Johnstone's a special talent. He will get better as the weeks go on. He carried the ball really strongly. Him and Bill Tupou were a real handful on that left edge. And Mason Lino was good. That combination with Jacob Miller will get better.
"I was disappointed with our end of sets. The last-tackle plays were the difference between the two sides. We put ourselves in a fantastic position - at 16-4 we looked like we had the upper hand - but we came up with indiscipline. We were our own worst enemies.
"We need to be better at shutting that half down. Leeds caught us napping a few times, especially on that right edge. We scored some good tries. We just needed a bit more grit in certain areas."
Leeds coach Richard Agar:
"It's round one, we've got plenty to build off and plenty to work on. We looked dangerous in attack and dominated a lot of territory and possession.
"Wakefield have got some big blokes and a terrific left edge but we can be disappointed with both length-of-the-field tries. I am happy we came from behind and happy we closed it out.
"Kyle Eastmond has been out six or seven months. Apart from getting him match-conditioned, we've got to get him used to us. We want him fully ready to go, which could be another week or two - we'll take it week by week."
Wakefield: A Walker; Senior, Lyne, Tupou, Johnstone; Miller, Lino; Fifita, Crowther, Arona, Ashurst, Tanginoa, Westerman.
Interchange: J Wood, Green, Tangata, Batchelor.
Leeds: Myler; L Briscoe, A Sutcliffe, Broadbent, T Briscoe; Gale, L Sutcliffe; Tetevano, Mellor, Martin, Oledzki, Leeming, Prior.
Interchange: Dwyer, Thompson, Donaldson, Smith.
Referee: Scott Mikalauskas.