LEEDS took out of the first match of the Super League pre-season – a festive challenge in which it seemed referees had heeded calls for faster rucks.
Wigan’s Matty Peet, Catalans’ Joel Tomkins and Toulouse’s Sylvain Houles are among the coaches to appeal for play-the-balls to be cleaned and sped up in 2026, claiming it was a major flaw in the British game.
“You can see the referee speeding up the rucks,” Leeds fullback Lachie Miller, working in commentary, said during the Rhinos’ 18-10 win at Headingley.
“The rucks are quicker.”
First half tryscorer Alfie Edgell was forced off with an apparent hamstring injury at the start of the second half in sunny, chilly conditions.
And Jack Sinfield, son of Leeds great Kevin, got his first taste of life as an opposition player at Headingley, shortened up by a big hit from Ethan O’Neill in the first half but setting up a try for Jayden Myers for a lovely pass in the second.
Fullback Edgell scored after 14 minutes after winger Myers put down a bomb. Scrum-half George Brown was next Rhino to score, dummying past Caius Faatili.
The pass from Wakefield hooker Harvey Smith for replacement Jordan Williams to score looked forward in the 32nd minute – in a set which featured two set restarts.
New Leeds signing Chris Hankinson grubbered into the left corner in the shadows of halftime with Riley Lumb winning the race and the stand-off converting superbly from the touchline for an 18-6 lead.
Edgell only lasted a few seconds of the second half before raising his arm for a trainer after he hobbled into a tackle.
Leeds continued to be the better side with replacement Danny Levi and second rower Cooper Jenkins held up. That was before Sinfield’s cutout pass put Myers over, narrowing the margin to eight.
LEEDS 18 (Edgell Brown Lumb tries Hankinson 3 goals) beat WAKEFIELD 10 (Williams Myers tries Sinfield goal) at Headingley.
Teams:
LEEDS: Alfie Edgell; Harley Thomas, Max Simpson, Ned McCormack, Riley Lumb; Chris Hankinson, George Brown; Tom Holroyd, Jarrod O’Connor, Cooper Jenkins, Ben Littlewood, Ethan O’Neill, Keenan Palasia. Res: Jeremiah Mata’utia, Danny Levi, Tom Nicholson-Watton, Marcus Qare-quare, Oscar Brown.
WAKEFIELD: Robbie Brook; Jayden Myers, Oliver Pratt, Corey Hall, Will Tate; Myles Lawford, Jack Sinfield; Ky Rodwell, Harvey Smith, Caius Faatili, Cameron Scott, Isaiah Vagana, Charlie Abraham. Res: Kian McGann, Tray Lolesio, Jordan Williams, Cass Walker-Smith, Ewan Molyneux.
Referee: Marcus Griffiths.
