Rampant Rhinos put huge dent in Hull's top-six dreams

Leeds Rhinos’ push for a top-two Super League finish continued with a convincing 34-0 victory at Hull FC on Saturday afternoon ~ a defeat that leaves a large dent in the Black and Whites’ own playoff hopes.

- By DAN TOMLINSON

For 20 minutes, it was a contest, but then Leeds got the opening score and never looked back.

Relishing the physicality, they began to throw the ball about and they got their reward.

The Rhinos are a team that look destined to put together a genuine tilt for the Grand Final come October; they're bang in form and they’re playing with confidence.

In contrast, Hull, already doing it tough with injury, lost two more forwards in the first half - Herman Ese’ese and then Ed Chamberlain - in a contest that quickly got away from them.

Before the game, Hull celebrated the 20-year anniversary of 2005's famous Challenge Cup victory over Leeds - with then-captain Richard Swain in attendance among several other of his former teammates - but it was another former Hull cup winner now at Leeds, Jake Connor, who began to enjoy himself.