Super League: Leeds Rhinos 24-26 Castleford - Tigers end six-game losing run

Elliot Wallis scored a crucial try for Castleford in the first half

Jason Qareqare's late try earned a precious victory for Castleford against rivals Leeds at Magic Weekend and ended a six-game losing run for the Tigers.

Andy Last's side were rewarded for a tenacious performance, coming back from 10 points down to edge in front through Qareqare's try on the right.

Leeds, who have now lost three home games in a row, scored four tries, all converted by goalkicker Rhyse Martin.

But Cas scored five tries, with Gareth Widdop adding three goals, to prevail.

• Latest Super League table

This final game of the first day of Magic Weekend threatened - on paper, at least - to be a predictable damp squib given Cas' struggles, but the tenacity of the Tigers and their raucous following turned that on its head.

They were made to work as Leeds kept pulling clear, but showed character in front of a crowd of 36,943 to come up with the points.

Rohan Smith will be scratching his head as to how Rhinos let this slip, losing to Castleford for a second time this season.

The hosts made the brighter start when Derrell Olpherts crossed after a looping pass to the left, but Castleford responded swiftly when Jordan Turner cut back against the grain and teed up Jacob Miller to cross.

Elliot Wallis showed pace and precision to keep himself inside the chalk and streak over for a second Tigers score, only for James Bentley to again swing the pendulum by racing onto a James McDonnell kick to bring it level before Martin's conversion.

Martin was put in by a fizzing cut-out ball by Blake Austin as Leeds powered ahead again, before Alex Mellor crossed against his old club to continue the topsy-turvy nature of the contest.

When Mikolaj Oledzki stomped over after Bentley broke the line and offloaded, it seemed as though Leeds had done enough.

But Mellor's second score and a fine finish from Qareqare - recalled this week from a loan spell at Bradford - sealed only Tigers' third league win this season, bringing joy and relief to Last and his staff as Cas moved six points clear of bottom side Wakefield.

Castleford head coach Andy Last: "I don't want to look at Wakefield too much because it's really important that we take care of our own business.

"It was evident today that those players who've been excellent in the past can put up a performance of quality and if we get more of that from our senior blokes, we'll get more wins than losses, and it will be out of Wakefield's hands.

"We spoke about being together and working our way through the tough times we've faced this year, and it was evident in the last play of the game when we had one minute to play and were able to drive a player (Bentley) over the sideline.

"That was a real show of togetherness and unity and probably something I will look to feature in the review."

Leeds head coach Rohan Smith: "It wasn't anywhere near the standard. We've been up for it a lot lately and today our execution was a long way off.

"We just didn't have that usual level of connectedness and discipline and trust, so they created more opportunities than we would have liked to provide.

"But everyone who watches rugby league has seen the character in this group - we've been backs against the wall a lot lately and today we were also under pressure.

"Sometimes when you're under pressure you don't always answer the question correctly, but there's no questioning the character and spirit. You don't do what you did last week and then all of a sudden not have character."

Leeds: Handley; MacDonald, Roberts, Martin, Olpherts; Austin, Myler; Oledzki, O'Connor, Walters, McDonnell, Donaldson, Smith

Interchanges: Bentley, Johnson, Walters, Sangare

Castleford: Widdop; Qareqare, Mellor, Turner, Wallis; Broadbent, Miller; Watts, McShane, Matagi, Edwards, Lawler, Westerman

Interchanges: Martin, Mustapha, Hall, Griffin

Referee: Ben Thaler.

• Super League Show - watch and catch-up here