Leeds Rhinos wee string favourites with the bookies to take
the two points in the West Yorkshire derby as they travelled to Castleford to
take on a Tigers side in danger of dropping into the bottom two as the season
nears its climax.

A win would lift the Rhinos back into third spot in the
table and put them just two points behind second placed Wigan Warriors, at
least until Leigh and St Helens played their own round twenty-two matches.

Leeds have won both games between the two sides so far in
2025, the round three encounter by 38-24 and again in round twelve by 29-6, and
most commentators and supporters believed pre-game that this would be the
Rhinos treble.

A brilliant break from Lachie Miller on four took Leeds from
their own half to ten from the line before the defence finally got a hand on
him. Jake Connor chipped the ball to the corner which was juggled by Harry
Newman who regained possession before grounding for the opener. Connor kicked
the conversion from close to the right touchline for a 6-0 lead.

On nine minutes, another kick from Connor was plucked out of
the air by Miller under the shadow of the Castleford sticks, the Rhinos full
back dropping over the line and giving Connor a simple conversion for 12-0.

Castleford’s Louis Senior had a try turned down by the video
referee on thirteen as he was witnessed to knock-on in the build-up.

An awful error by Jansen Windley, stumbling as he went to
collect a Leeds kick through, gifted the Rhinos the ball twelve out from the
line. Connor was held up over the line on seventeen but two tackles later Leeds
youngster Presley Cassell got his first Super League try as he hit the ball at
speed and crashed over. Connor added the extras for 18-0, the Rhinos scoring at
just under a point a minute.

On twenty a great break from Andy Ackers from inside his own
half saw him to fifteen out before he found the supporting Brodie Croft to
cross and ground for the fourth Rhinos try of the afternoon. Connor was on
target again, Leeds finding it all too easy.

On thirty-one James Bentley chased an Ash Handley grubber
towards the Castleford sticks and managed to stretch out a hand to ground,
beating the Windley to the ball. Connor added the conversion, Leeds with a thirty-point
lead, Castleford having a bad day at the office.

Handley dropped the ball over the line on thirty-three under
the tackle after taking a great Croft offload.

On thirty-eight Ryan Hall ended a nine-game scoring drought
as he took a James McDonnell miss-out pass to run the angle around the Tigers
defence to score. Connor was again on target from the touchline for 36-0 at the
interval.

Harry Newman also got the first try of the second half as
the Rhinos kept the ball alive down the left wing, with Chris Hankinson and
Miller involved to put the centre over. Connor added the extras for 42-0,
normal business resumed for the Rhinos.

Ryan Hall joined Newman on a brace on forty-nine, Newman
taking a bounce pass from Bentley before hurling out a long ball into the arms
of the winger to walk over down the right wing to score.

Connor hit the near
post with the conversion attempt, his first failure to convert of the
afternoon.

Seconds before the hour mark Jake Connor went over the line
on his back and grounded one-handed after a Miller bomb evaded attackers and
defenders alike and bounced into the Rhinos play-makers hands. He added the conversion,
his eighth of the afternoon, for 52-0, the scoreline which was enough to see
Castleford drop to eleventh on points difference.

On sixty-four Croft got his second of the afternoon as the
Rhinos passed the ball through half a dozen pairs of hands, mesmerising the
Tigers defence.

On seventy-two Hall picked up a wayward pass and went to the
ten-metre line. A fast play the ball saw the ball moved left with Handley stretching
to score but then limping away from the score. Hankinson added the conversion,
Leeds with a 64-0 lead.

A small consolation for the Tigers came on seventy-six as
Jensen Windley broke the Leeds line and evaded a couple of tackles to avoid the
nilling. Chris Atkin added the conversion for 6-64.

This was, by some distance, the Tigers heaviest defeat of the
season as the Rhinos cut loose and ripped their defence apart at will to rack
up an eleven try performance and a win which lifts them to third in the table,
while demoting the Tigers into eleventh spot. In securing their biggest ever
away score at Castleford, the Rhinos scored at will but will be concerned about
a couple of injuries to add to the queue at physio’s office on Monday morning.
Leeds, with Brad Arthur assured for next season, will have an eye on the second
spot which gets them into the play-off semi-finals, those in competition for
the same spot have been served due notice.

Castleford Tigers: Windley (T), Simm, Wood, Senior L,
Wallis, Asi, Atkin (G 1/1), Singleton, Robb, Amone, Lawler, Mellor, Westerman. Subs:
Griffin, Hall, Mustapha, Stimson. 18^th Man: Hill.

Leeds Rhinos: Miller (T), Hall (2T), Newman (2T), Handley
(T), Hankinson (G 1/1), Croft (2T), Connor (T, G 7/, Palasia, Ackers, Cassell
(T), Gannon, McDonnell, Watkins. Subs: Bentley (T), Lisone, Littlewood, O’Connor.
18^th Man: Sinfield. 

Half-Time: 0-36.

Full-Time: 6-64.  

Score Progression: 0-4, 0-6, 0-10, 0-12, 1-16, 0-18, 0-22, 0-24,
0-28, 0-30, 0-34, 0-36 : HT: 0-40, 0-42, 0-46, 0-50, 0-52, 0-56, 0-58, 0-62,
0-64, 4-64, 6-64 :FT.

Lead Exchanges: Leeds.

Referee: Aaron Moore.