Leeds come from behind to beat Wakefield 24-22 at DIY Kitchens Stadium
Leeds Rhinos recovered from a 16-0 deficit to beat Wakefield Trinity 24-22 at the DIY Kitchens Stadium in a top-of-the-table Super League fixture on 7 August 2026, moving four points clear at the summit.
A sell-out crowd watched the two top teams contest a match described as worthy of a Grand Final, with Leeds trailing for all but three minutes before a late turnaround. Two decisive plays from the boot of Jake Connor settled the result in the closing stages and ensured the Rhinos left Wakefield celebrating.
Wakefield opened strongly and built a 16-0 advantage through three tries, all converted by Jack Sinfield. The scoring included Isaiah Vagana following a clever kick from Sinfield, Caleb Hamlin-Uele finishing after a bullocking run and offload from Caius Faatili, and Jayden Myers touching down in the corner.
Leeds' fightback began after Brodie Croft scored what the report describes as his 25th Super League try of the campaign, a score that gave the visitors renewed hope. Cam Smith made an impact off the bench during the second-half revival, and Leeds' pressure grew as the period progressed.
Wakefield twice resisted further Leeds tries through last-ditch defensive efforts from Cam Scott and Hamlin-Uele, but James McDonnell eventually forced his way through the home defence to make it 22-10, with Connor adding further points from the boot to reduce the deficit. Three minutes later Cam Smith again aided Leeds as they closed the gap to 22-18.
With three minutes remaining Connor produced a grubber that Chris Hankinson pounced on to level the scores at 22-22 with 77 minutes on the clock. Connor then converted the extras from five yards inside the touchline to complete the turnaround; the report notes Connor is last year's Man of Steel and that he produced a nerveless kick from the left flank to seal the win.
Match tries and goal scorers were recorded as follows: Wakefield — Tries: Vagana, Hamlin-Uele, Myers, Sinfield; Goals: Sinfield 3. Leeds — Tries: Croft, McDonnell, Smith, Hankinson; Goals: Connor 4.
Wakefield: Rourke; Myers, Scott, Hall, Johnstone; Trueman, Sinfield; Lolesio, Smoothy, Rodwell, McMeeken, Vagana, Tevaga. Interchanges: Pitts, Hamlin-Uele, Faatili, Smith.
Leeds: Miller; Edgell, Handley, Bird, Newman; Croft, Connor; Oledzki, O'Connor, Jenkins, Hankinson, McDonnell, Watkins. Interchanges: Smith, Lloyd, Cassell, Holroyd.
The victory gave Leeds a significant step towards securing a top-two finish with five regular-season games remaining; the report states their points difference is over 200 points ahead of Wakefield and Wigan Warriors in second and third, making their lead at the top effectively five points and leaving a home semi-final looking assured.