The Leeds Rhinos produced a dominant performance to defeat the Bradford Bulls 42-12 in their Magic Weekend encounter at St James' Park in Newcastle. The victory extended Leeds' winning streak to five matches and propelled them into the Super League top four for the first time this season.
First-Half Dominance
Leeds raced to a 24-0 lead by halftime, with tries from Ash Handley, Richie Myler, and a brace from Liam Sutcliffe. The Rhinos' defense was resolute, shutting down Bradford's attacking threats and forcing several errors from the Bulls. Bradford struggled to contain Leeds' offloading game, which created numerous line breaks.
Bradford's Second-Half Fightback
The Bulls came out stronger after the break, scoring two quick tries through John Bateman and Danny Addy to reduce the deficit to 24-12. However, Leeds regained control with two more tries from Konrad Hurrell and a late score from Matt Prior to seal the comprehensive win. Bradford's ill-discipline proved costly, as they conceded eight penalties in the second half.
Key Performances
Liam Sutcliffe was named man of the match for his two tries and five goals, contributing 18 points. Leeds head coach Rohan Smith praised his team's execution: "We were clinical in the first half and showed great resilience when Bradford came back. It's a fantastic result for us." Bradford coach Mark Dunning admitted his side was outplayed: "Leeds were too strong today. We made too many errors and couldn't handle their intensity."
Implications for the Table
The win moves Leeds into fourth place, leapfrogging the Catalans Dragons, while Bradford remains in ninth, now six points adrift of the playoff spots. With only six rounds remaining, the Bulls face an uphill battle to secure a top-six finish. The Magic Weekend attendance of 35,892 was the highest of the event so far.
