Super League: Leeds Rhinos 26-0 Wakefield Trinity - visitors scoreless for third successive game
- Published
David Fusitu'a is in his second season with Leeds Rhinos
Betfred Super League |
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Leeds (0) 26 |
Tries: Fusitu'a 2, Newman, Holroyd, Macdonald Goals: Martin 2, Sezer |
Wakefield (0) 0 |
Leeds Rhinos beat Wakefield Trinity, who failed to score points for the third successive Super League match.
Rhinos centre Harry Newman returned from a long injury lay-off to score one of five second-half tries after a first half at Headingley without any points.
Newman had not played since August after hamstring surgery but went over two minutes after coming off the bench.
David Fusitu'a scored twice, while Tom Holroyd and Nene Macdonald also crossed for the home side.
Wakefield's night was summed up late in the game as a misdirected pass was picked off by Leeds' Richie Myler, who fed Macdonald to race away to score his first try for Leeds and seal a second win of the season.
But in the opening half, the hosts lacked inspiration in attack, not helped by winger Ash Handley limping off injured.
It took until five minutes into the second period for the game's first points as Leeds attacked the short side and good hands created space for Fusitu'a to score in the corner.
He then palmed a cross-kick back infield for Newman to score on his return.
Aidan Sezer's break led to Leeds' third try from prop Holroyd, before a floated pass sent Fusitu'a over for his second.
Leeds head coach Rohan Smith:
"Harry [Newman] has been very patient and he's trained really hard. The physio team have done a terrific job with him and our strength and conditioning crew have taken over for the last bit and have seen him through.
"We knew Wakefield would be extremely difficult to break down.
"Huddersfield found them hard to crack last week, and Catalans managed to undo them with their kicking. They competed hard and had a few injuries as the game went on, so we had to earn that."
Wakefield head coach Mark Applegarth:
"I thought we were right in it until the first 10 minutes of the second half but we can't just keep on playing that way. We gave four penalties away in that period and Leeds took full advantage.
"It is early in the season and there are some positives I can take out of the game.
"I can't fault anyone for effort but we need to get some more smarts and composure about us. And we can't keep saying that, because we've got to start learning the lessons quickly."
Leeds: Myler; Fusitu'a, Handley, Macdonald, Olpherts; Austin, Sezer; Holroyd, O'Connor, Tetevano, McDonnell, Martin, Smith.
Interchanges: Lisone, Walters, Newman, Bentley.
Wakefield: Kay; Kershaw, Lyne, Langi, Taufua; Gaskell, Lino; Atoni, Hood, Whitbread, Pitts, Ashurst, Crowther.
Interchanges: Battye, Proctor, Smith, Eseh.
Referee: Ben Thaler