Super League: Hull FC back to winning ways with shock victory over error-strewn Leeds Rhinos

Hull FC hit back following a run of four consecutive defeats to claim a much-needed 24-16 Betfred Super League win over ill-disciplined Leeds at the MKM Stadium.

Zak Hardaker helped himself to three penalties among his personal 14-point haul as John Cartwright's men revived themselves after blowing an early 12-point advantage to run out the richly-deserved winners.

The lights of last month's thumping Las Vegas win over Hull KR are quickly dimming for the unravelling Rhinos, who coughed up countless errors and seemed to have learned nothing from last week's feeble Challenge Cup exit at Wakefield.

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Jake Connor kicked them in front with an early penalty but otherwise Hull, on a wretched run of form that had started to raise questions over Cartwright's continued tenure, cut them open with ridiculous ease in the first half-hour.

James Bell broke through and laid off for Jake Arthur to score the opening try after nine minutes, and just two minutes later, Amir Bourouh's battering ram from dummy half gifted the simplest of chances for Ligi Sao.

Hardaker kicked two simple conversions and a subsequent penalty to bump up the advantage for the hosts before the flat-footed Rhinos belatedly stirred and starting reeling themselves back into the match.

James McDonnell crashed over for the opener off Lachlan Miller's clever kick, then after McDonnell was held up inches short of his second, it was Ash Handley's boot that beat the despairing dive of John Asiata and sent Brodie Croft arrowing over.

Two goals from O'Connor, the second after Chris Hankinson was carelessly tackled high by Cade Cust on the stroke of half-time, gave Brad Arthur's men a 16-14 interval lead.

But any hopes the visiting fans had that their side would maintain their momentum were dashed as the Rhinos proceeded to start the second half as shabbily as they had the first.

Two unnecessary penalties gifted Hardaker the chance to kick the Black and Whites back in front and the hosts pressed home their advantage when Lewis Martin's gutsy break resulted in a clever kick through by John Asiata that gave Davy Litten the chance to score his side's third.

Miller, responsible for so many of Leeds' errors, temporarily redeemed himself by holding up Cust over the line, but Hull continued to push and were a fingertip away from extending their lead when Brad Fash burst over but he was penalised for an earlier knock-on.

The Rhinos' hopes of shunting back within six-point range were dashed when O'Connor's long-range penalty rebounded off the posts, and their day was summed up in the dying minutes when Jack Bird was penalised for pushing out at his own play-the-ball.

2026 Super League - key dates and what to look out for

• Super League's 30th birthday: Thu Mar 26: Castleford Tigers vs Bradford Bulls, 8pm (Sky Sports)
• Rivals Round: April 3-April 5
• Super League in Paris: Sat Jun 6: Catalans Dragons vs Wigan Warriors (Paris), 6:30 UK (Sky Sports)
• Magic Weekend: July 4-July 5
• Rivals Round reversed: July 23-July 26
• Elimination Play-offs: September 19-September 20
• Play-off semi-finals: September 26-September 27
• Grand Final: October 3, Old Trafford.

Sky Sports will again show every game of the Super League live this season - including two matches in each round exclusively live, with the remaining five matches each week shown on Sky Sports+