Rhinos run riot at Headingley

Leeds Rhinos embarked on their quest to become the first team to win a third successive Super League title with a convincing 44-8 triumph over Hull KR at Headingley on Friday.

Leeds ran in eight tries in all, through Lee Smith (six, 73), Brent Webb (32), Ali Lauitiiti (48, 53), Jamie Peacock (62), Ryan Hall (65) and Keith Senior (79), while Kevin Sinfield added eight points with the boot.

Deprived of the services of Chev Walker early into the match when the centre emerged from an innocuous looking tackle from Senior with a career-threatening leg break, Rovers simply did not have the strength in depth to compete for 80 minutes.

Daniel Fitzhenry's try (21) and four points from Albert Goldthorpe medal winner Michael Dobson kept them in contention in the first-half, but Leeds ran away with it in the second to book their place in the qualifying semi-finals.

Drama

The champions dominated the early exchanges and took the lead when Danny McGuire's kick out wide was palmed back by Scott Donald for Smith to latch on to and touch down.

Sinfield missed the extras, but the hosts were all over their opponents and looked likely to extend their advantage before a horror injury for former Leeds man Walker curtailed their momentum.

By contrast, seemingly galvanised by the break in play, Rovers fought their way back into the match and got on the scoreboard when Smith knocked on under a high ball from Dobson. Rovers quickly worked the resulting ball out to Fitzhenry and the full-back picked his way to the line for a converted try.

Sinfield was guilty of kicking a goalline dropout out on the full soon after to gift Dobson another two points, but the Rhinos hit back through Webb after a fine break and offload from Lauitiiti. This time Sinfield converted and Leeds went into the break 10-8 up.

Domination

Rovers had clawed their way back into the game after a poor start, but had no answer to the rampaging Lautiiti after the interval as the former New Zealand Warrior forced his way over following McGuire's up and under and good work from Hall and Senior.

Lauitiiti got in again minutes later as Rob Burrow and McGuire combined to send him crashing through the Hull KR defence. Sinfield converted and the champions had a 20-8 lead.

There was still time for England captain Peacock to make it five tries in five matches with a powerful drive to the line and Super League's leading try-scorer Hall to finish after Webb's break and offload. Sinfield converted both tries and Leeds led 32-8.

Smith scored again and added the conversion to add insult to injury for Hull KR and Senior rounded it off with another converted effort. So it is Justin Morgan's side that will take on the highest placed elimination play-off qualifier in week two of the play-offs, while Leeds can rest easy for an extra seven days.