Wakefield 38-6 Leeds: Trinity hammer Rhinos in Super 8s
By PA Sport
Last Updated: 11/08/17 6:04am
Jacob Miller enjoyed a dream comeback as Wakefield boosted their fading play-off hopes with a 38-6 rout of West Yorkshire rivals Leeds at Beaumont Legal Stadium.
Trinity had fallen away in recent weeks but they returned to form in style against an out-of-sorts Rhinos.
Miller had been a big miss for Wakefield during their poor run but his return from a broken leg was key to Chris Chester's side climbing back into the top four.
Joe Arundel's early effort set the tone for a dominant first-half performance by Wakefield as further tries from Ben Jones-Bishop, Scott Grix and Miller gave them a 26-6 lead at the break.
Adam Cuthbertson's 10th-minute leveller was all Leeds had to show from a nightmare opening 40 minutes and it got little better for the Rhinos after the break, with Matty Ashurst and Bill Tupou completing Wakefield's biggest Super League win over their neighbours.
Chester demanded a positive reaction from Wakefield after last week's heavy defeat at Huddersfield - their fifth loss in seven games - and they looked determined to prove they were still top-four contenders in the opening minutes.
It was two fresh players who gave Trinity the perfect start, fit-again stand-off Miller making a jinking break before recalled centre Arundel used quick footwork to touch down out wide.
Liam Finn nailed his touchline conversion but indiscipline gave Leeds the field position to strike back quickly through Cuthbertson from Danny McGuire's well-weighted kick.
Reece Lyne's determined run sparked the game into life after a lull, only for another handling error to let the Rhinos off the hook.
Leeds were struggling to get out of their own half and Wakefield finally turned territory into points when Jones-Bishop finished Grix's dab in behind.
Trinity were full value for their 12-6 lead and it got even better for the hosts as Grix raced clear after Kyle Wood took advantage of tired defence by Jamie Jones-Buchanan in the set from the restart.
The Rhinos were on the rack and would perhaps have been grateful for Wakefield's decision to take the two when they were caught offside on their own line.
But Trinity were immediately on the attack again and they put themselves out of sight just before the hooter as Miller touched down after Leeds made a mess of Finn's kick.
The visitors predictably came out firing at the start of the second half but Wakefield weathered the storm and piled more misery on Leeds.
Full-back Ashton Golding lost the ball in collision coming away from his own line and Ashurst pounced on it to mark his 200th career appearance with a try.
The impressive Wood had a try ruled out for a double movement and there was a blow for Wakefield when Arundel went off with an arm injury.
But Trinity ended a memorable night on a high as Tupou touched down Grix's kick on a free play.
