Wounded Wakefield Trinity beaten in high-scoring thriller at Super League leaders Leeds Rhinos

In an action-packed West Yorkshire derby - which didn’t finish until after 10.10pm due to a serious-looking injury to Trin’s Cameron Scott in the opening minutes and many interventions from the video referee which saw three Leeds players sent to the sin-bin - Wakefield were always playing catch-up to the in-form Rhinos, with Maika Sivo continuing to make the headlines.

Super League’s top tryscorer took his impressive tally to 17 with yet another hat-trick but his yellow card just before the half-time hooter gave Trin hope of another unbelievable victory over Brad Arthur’s men following their Challenge Cup success at the DIY Kitchens Stadium in March.

In the end, tries from Oliver Pratt and Tray Lolesio and a splendid second half double from Jayden Myers were not enough for Daryl Powell’s men who were beaten 40-22.

The chaotic action started within the first 20 seconds as Mike McMeeken was penalised for a play-the-ball error allowing the Rhinos an early barrage of pressure which included Danny Levi being held up on line before Jack Bird was pushed in the back trying to claim a high kick to the corner, resulting in Jake Connor slotting over a penalty to get the first points on the board.

There was a lengthy stoppage straight from the restart as Scott received treatment after a powerful collision with Keenan Palasia. Trin’s centre was stretchered from the field with all four sides of Headingley wishing him a speedy recovery.

The famous boisterous South Standers had their first sight of Sivo shortly after, but the next cheers came from the hundreds of Trin fans behind the sticks in the packed West Stand as the powerful winger was brought down by Matty Storton and Josh Rourke.

More great defensive work followed as Chris Hankinson was somehow denied on the line but Wakefield could do nothing when Connor fired in a pass to Ash Handley who tipped it onto Sivo, who did the rest in the corner.

Kallum Watkins’ converted try then gave Leeds a 14-0 lead after he shrugged off a tackle before finding a gaping gap by the sticks.

Leeds were showing signs of why they had scored 102 points across their last two games against Huddersfield Giants and Catalans Dragons.

But just when it looked like everything was going against the wounded Wakey, who have been ravaged by injuries in recent weeks, up stepped Jake Trueman to deliver a fantastic looping pass out wide to Will Tate, who had come on for Scott, who kept his composure to go back inside for Pratt to score his 11th Super League try of 2026.

That try moved Pratt into joint-second on the top tryscorers list for the season. But Sivo moved even clearer of the rest right at the top of the chart with his 16th Super League effort after Connor and Lachlan Miller combined well to find him on the left.

Sivo’s eventful night was paused after he was sent to the sin-bin having taken out Rourke in a challenge which could have easily been a red card.

And the visitors made the extra man count immediately on the hooter as Lolesio powered over.

Trin’s five-game winning streak in Super League came to a halt last weekend at St Helens despite fighting back from 16-0 down to get back to within six points.

Tonight they had fought back from 14-0 and 20-6 to get back to within eight points before the half-time hooter.

But Leeds, despite starting the second half with only 12 men, nudged further ahead when Connor knocked over his second penalty of the evening after Tate had fumbled a high kick which was picked up by a team-mate in an offside position.

Rourke, who passed his HIA at the interval, then chased a Tate kick only to be the recipient of a professional foul by Ash Handley, who joined Sivo in the sin-bin.

And with the Rhinos momentarily down to 11 players, Trin had acres of space on the left for Myers to narrow the deficit to just four points.

But the Rhinos, with Sivo now back on the field, were able to restore their ten-point cushion almost immediately. Frustratingly it was an unforced error as Trueman’s kick on halfway didn’t gain any yardage and, instead, caused panic in the middle of the park, allowing Brodie Croft to scamper clear.

What we all know, however, about this Trinity side, is that it never gives up. And they scored another great try with Myers going over for his second of the contest after picking up a great Rourke chipped kick to make it 28-22.

Not for the first time on the night, though, Trin undid their hard work by conceding just three minutes later when Sivo secured his hat-trick try.

Connor missed the conversion but he followed up with a penalty before Croft got his second to seal a thrilling win and keep Wakefield in fifth, four points behind the Rhinos at the top.

Leeds: Miller, Hall, Bird, Handley, Sivo, Croft, Connor, Oledski, Levi, Palasia, McDonnell, Hankinson, Watkins

Interchanges: Holroyd, Jenkins, O’Connor, Smith

Tries: Sivo (3), Watkins, Croft (2)

Conversions: Connor (5)

Penalties: Connor (3)

Wakefield: Rourke, Pratt, Scott, Hall, Myers, Trueman, Lino, McMeeken, Smoothy, Hamlin-Uele, Rodwell, Storton, Pitts

Interchanges: Faatili, Smith, Lolesio, Tate

Tries: Pratt, Lolesio, Myers (2)

Conversions: Lino (3)

Attendance: 15,145