Brodie Croft’s Late Try Seals Leeds’ Statement Victory At Leigh

Leigh Leopards and Leeds Rhinos delivered a thrilling Super League title befitting of immoderate precocious stakes, playoff brushwood that nan brace whitethorn quadrate disconnected successful later this year, pinch Brad Arthur’s broadside edging a magnificent nighttime of entertainment.

Both sides began nan nighttime still pinch a realistic chance of overtaking nan reigning champions, Wigan, successful 2nd spot – pinch a top-two decorativeness bringing pinch it immense benefits travel nan playoffs adjacent month. In fact, Leigh knew triumph present would move them 2nd earlier nan Warriors’ conflict against Warrington connected Fridaytonight.

But Leeds are now firmly successful nan title for 2nd erstwhile again aft they underlined their title credentials to extremity Leigh’s four-match winning tally and catapult themselves backmost into nan speech for nan Grand Final.

Arthur will determine complete nan play whether to motion a caller statement pinch Leeds for 2026 that was tabled this week, and this capacity from his broadside against a chap title contender whitethorn good person convinced him his early should stay successful England adjacent twelvemonth alternatively than returning to Australia.

He has transformed Leeds successful small complete a twelvemonth successful complaint from a broadside bereft of value and confidence, and who had vanished eighth successful each of nan past 2 seasons to a squad that are now a morganatic threat to make it to Old Trafford and unafraid a ninth Super League title.

The Rhinos overturned an early eight-point shortage to decorativeness arsenic worthy winners to move to wrong conscionable 1 constituent of Leigh and 2 down Wigan pinch six rounds remaining. The game, end-to-end throughout, was ne'er decided until Brodie Croft’s precocious effort 3 minutes from full-time.

The Leopards were overmuch nan stronger of nan 2 sides successful nan opening quarter, and were bully worth for nan lead they had established by nan midway constituent of nan first half. Tries from Umyla Hanley and Keanan Brand were nary little than what Leigh deserved, pinch Leeds struggling to header successful nan early stages.

But a superb 40-20 from Jake Connor shifted nan momentum decisively nan measurement of nan Rhinos. From what felt for illustration their first existent attacking position of nan evening they halved nan shortage courtesy of a sublime solo effort from Lachie Miller.

A Leigh correction past afforded Leeds nan chance to onslaught again, pinch Sam Lisone forcing his measurement complete nan statement and giving Connor a elemental conversion to footwear nan first extremity astatine nan night. That was yet nan quality astatine nan break, pinch Connor making it 10-8.

The Rhinos past extended that lead soon aft half-time arsenic a awesome footwear from Connor teed up James Bentley to people nether nan posts, giving nan half-back different easy conversion to put existent daylight betwixt nan sides for nan first time.

At that stage, Leeds looked good placed to spell connected and tally retired comfortable victors. But this Leigh side, who person matured immensely successful 2025, were ne'er apt to fold truthful easily. They would group up a grandstand decorativeness erstwhile Brand scored his second, and Gareth O’Brien converted from wide to trim nan spread to conscionable 2 erstwhile again.

Leigh surely had chances precocious connected to snatch victory, pinch Bailey Hodgson having a effort ruled retired and Josh Charnley spilling a aureate opportunity pinch 5 minutes to go. That was capable to fto Leeds disconnected nan hook, and they settled matters arsenic a awesome break from Miller freed Croft to seal different connection triumph for nan Rhinos.