If the rumours are to be believed, both coaches in tonight’s round sixteen Super League fixture at Emerald Headingley were both sipping from a drink already served in the last chance saloon as ninth took on tenth in an uninspiring fixture with both sides starting to drift too far from the play-off spots to make their end of season inclusion a likelihood.
The Rhinos were slight favourites with the bookies, the Giants having been given a four-point start on the coupon but with losses to the bottom two sides in their last two outings it would be a brave man who put his fifty pence on a home victory. The Rhinos have lost their last four on the bounce while the Giants have lost their last two.
A win for the Rhinos would put them back in the eighth place that they lost the previous night to Hull FC, a win by twenty-two or more would lift the Giants above the Rhinos and into ninth.
Leeds were off the mark just before the ten minute mark, Sam Walters being put through a gap in the Giants defence by Cameron Smith for a simple walk in try. Rhyse Martin added the conversion for a 6-0 lead to the home side.
Blake Austin ripped through the Giants defence to set up the second Leeds try on fifteen as he released Richie Myler on the ten-metre line to go in unopposed. Martin hit he target again for 12-0.
On twenty-one Leeds got their third, Austin again the provider after a run to the ten-metre line this time passing out to Ash Handley to score in the corner. Martin added the conversion, Leeds having the perfect start, the Giants having a nightmare.
Leeds spent the next fifteen minutes camped in the Giants half, but they couldn’t get over until the thirty-fifth minute when David Fusitu’a leapt to score one-handed in the right corner. Martin missed his touchline conversion but at 22-0 the Rhinos were easing out of sight.
Blake Austin tried a drop goal on thirty-nine but pushed the ball wide, Leeds taking a big lead into the interval.
Within three minutes of the start of the second half a neat passing move for the Rhinos saw James McDonnell score after breaks by Aidan Sezer, Austin and Myler, the full back putting in the final pass or an easy try for the second rower. Martin added the conversion for 28-0.
Martin added a penalty goal on forty-nine to extend the lead to five converted tries.
When the Giants finally got on the attack, they threw a wild ball which was intercepted by Handley who made it close to the Huddersfield line before being cut down by Innes Senior, Senior holding on too long and being shown the yellow card.
Walters second try came on the hour after Corey Johnson took out three tacklers before offloading to his prop to score under the sticks. Martin kicked the conversion for 36-0, it was all way too easy for Leeds.
A beautiful Myler kick, after another Austin break, was caught on the first bounce by Martin who improved the angle for himself to score under the bar. He added the conversion himself for 42-0 after sixty-five minutes.
Fusitu’a got his brace on sixty-eight as he jumped to take a Myler kick to the corner, the Giants defence with a lacklustre challenge, and dropped over the line. Martin added the conversion for a personal twenty-point haul.
Martin got his second to bring up the fifty points after a Myler chip over the top was backhanded into the hands of his centre to run behind the posts again and dot down. He was on target once again for a final score of 54-0, the Giants failing to trouble the Leeds line.
The Rhinos 2023 has been feast or famine, with more famine than feast so far. But tonight, they gorged themselves senseless against a dreadful Huddersfield Giants side who seemed disinterested and unorganised. If Blake Austin was investigated by the police, then he´d be found guilty of murder… murdering the Giants defence as he cut them to shreds with a razor sharp boot. But he wasn´t alone with Myler, Sezer, Handley, Walters and Fusitu’a all having their best games of the season. The Giants can probably wave goodbye to the play-offs, the Rhinos will need to string together more performances like this to edge themselves into the all-important to six.
Leeds Rhinos: Myler (T), Fusitu’a (2T), Roberts, Martin (3T, 9G), Handley (T), Austin, Sezer, Oledzki, O’Connor, Walters (2T), McDonnell (T), Bentley, Smith. Subs: Johnson, Donaldson, Lisone, Sangare. 18th Man: Ruan.
Huddersfield Giants: Pryce, Senior (SB on 57), Bibby, Naiqama, McGillvary, Russell, Fages, Hill, Peats, Greenwood, Cudjoe, McQueen, Yates. Subs: Lolohea, Ikahihifo, Ashworth, Wilson. 18th Man: Livett.
Half-Time: 22-0.
Full-Time: 54-0.
Score Progression: 4-0, 6-0, 10-0, 12-0, 16-0, 18-0, 22-0 : HT: 26-0, 28-0, 30-0, (SB), 34-0, 36-0, 40-0, 42-0, 46-0, 48-0, 52-0, 54-0 :FT.
Lead Exchanges: Leeds.
Referee: Ben Thaler.
