Super League: Leeds Rhinos 52-0 Huddersfield Giants

Huddersfield’s revival against Saints last week, in which they scored three tries without reply before going down 26-18, may have given new coach Jim Lenihan a glimmer of hope, but the stark reality of his side’s situation was highlighted at AMT Headingley.

The Giants’ defense was poor and their handling was terrible at times, with Leeds’ 20-year-old full-back Fergus McCormack making a comfortable Super League debut in place of the suspended Lachie Miller.

Brodie Croft announced this week that he would be leaving the Rhinos at the end of the season and he showed what they would miss by sending Olejski on for an early opening try and pulling the strings.

Newman celebrated his return to the fold by finishing off a slick Leeds move and successive poacher Ryan Hall pounced on another loose ball after Croft forced Tim Gagai to save Jack Connor’s high kick in the in-goal area.

Croft was everywhere, and moments after a Connor Carr tackle was blocked at one end, he scored his 14th Super League touchdown at the other.

There was no response from the Giants in the second half and they were quickly punished as Micah Sivo continued his remarkable run with his 18th try in the competition this season.

Newman hit the line at pace for his second try, creating a series of pressures on the Giants offense from which James McDonnell broke and Oledzki added his second with Connor, who kicked eight of the nine conversions.

Debutant McCormack’s sharp pass broke through a thin Giants defensive line to round off Chris Hankinson.