Leeds Rhinos 40 Wakefield Trinity 22: Brad Arthur's free-scoring side march on with statement win

The Headingley clash pitted the best attack against the best defence and it was the Rhinos that came out on top, hitting the 40-point mark for the third game running.

Maika Sivo led the way with a hat-trick to take his 2026 tally to 19 tries in 10 games, while Brodie Croft now has 13 after scoring a double.

There were nervy moments for the competition leaders, who had Sivo, Ash Handley and Jack Bird sin-binned, but they were still too good for their depleted rivals.

Wakefield knocked the Rhinos out of the Challenge Cup in March to make it three wins in four derbies since their promotion back to Super League. However, without the likes of Tom Johnstone, Max Jowitt and Jazz Tevaga, they fell short in an entertaining match that had a bit of everything.

Trinity's cause was not helped by the loss of Cam Scott to a nasty head injury but it was another defeat for Daryl Powell's top-four hopefuls after losing to St Helens in their previous outing.

Wakefield found themselves 14-0 down inside the opening quarter after Mike McMeeken made a mess of the first play-the-ball of the game.

Jake Connor happily took the two when a penalty broke up Leeds' early pressure before play was halted for a lengthy period to tend to Scott.

The Rhinos only grew in strength after the stoppage to take a firm grip on the contest.

Fast hands from Handley put Sivo over in the corner before Kallum Watkins bumped off Mason Lino to finish Connor's no-look pass.

Wakefield needed to score next and did exactly that, Will Tate – thrust into the action as Scott's replacement – offloading back inside for Oli Pratt to score.

Sivo may have been caught out for that try but he soon redressed the balance by running over opposite number Tate to add his second.

The Fijian winger remained front and centre, this time for the wrong reasons when he saw yellow for a high tackle on Josh Rourke.

Trinity quickly took advantage through Tray Lolesio's powerful finish in the final minute of the half.

Lino's second conversion cut the deficit to 20-12 at the interval with a large chunk of time remaining against 12 men.

Connor ran the clock down by kicking a penalty but Leeds found themselves reduced to 11 men momentarily when Handley tackled Rourke without the ball over the tryline as the full-back threatened to finish Tate's kick.

There was just enough time for Jayden Myers to twist his way over out wide after outfoxing Ryan Hall.

Lino added the extras to get Trinity back to within four points but the undermanned Rhinos swiftly restored their advantage.

Wakefield failed to gather Jake Trueman's high kick near halfway, Connor scooped up the loose ball and gave Croft a clear run to the line.

But just when Leeds appeared to be regaining control, Trinity struck again.

Rourke sent a speculative kick towards the corner where Myers finished expertly under pressure.

The next try was crucial – and it was the Rhinos who scored it.

Once again, Sivo benefited from fast hands to coast over in the corner.

Connor added a penalty when Wakefield made a mess of the restart and Leeds shrugged off Bird's yellow card for throwing the ball into the stand unnecessarily to seal it.

Jarrod O'Connor dribbled a kick into the in-goal area and Croft raced through to add the finishing touches to another emphatic Leeds win.

Leeds Rhinos: Miller, Hall, Bird, Handley, Sivo, Croft, Connor, Oledzki, Levi, Palasia, McDonnell, Hankinson, Watkins. Substitutes: Holroyd, Jenkins, O'Connor, Smith.

Tries: Sivo (14, 32, 66), Watkins (19), Croft (53, 77).

Goals: Connor 8/9.

Sin bin: Sivo (39), Handley (47), Bird (75).

Wakefield Trinity: Rourke, Myers, Hall, Scott, Pratt, Trueman, Lino, McMeeken, Smoothy, Hamlin-Uele, Storton, Pitts, Rodwell. Substitutes: Faatili, Smith, Lolesio, Tate.

Tries: Pratt (26), Lolesio (40), Mylers (48, 62).

Goals: Lino 3/4.

Referee: Chris Kendall.