LEEDS RHINOS 46 YORK KNIGHTS 14
DAVE CRAVEN, AMT Headingley, Friday

LACHLAN Miller proved a constant thorn in York’s side as Leeds prepped for Las Vegas in style.

The silky fullback was heavily involved in five tries as Brad Arthur’s team brought the competition newcomers crashing back to earth.

York had produced a stunning comeback victory against champions Hull KR on their Super League bow last week.

But ruthless Leeds, who saw ex-NRL winger Maika Sivo score twice on debut after 14 months out injured, quickly reminded them life can be tough at the top.

Aussie ace Miller was a catalyst but fellow countryman Brodie Croft also shone, veteran wideman Ryan Hall chalked up another brace and Man of Steel Jake Connor successfully made his own return to prove his fitness in time for next Saturday’s Sin City date with Rovers.

The clubs had not played each other in a competitive fixture for 31 years and York had been firmly in the contest when level 6-6 just before the half-hour.

James McDonnell gave Leeds an 11th minute lead but York responded, Paul Vaughan setting them in motion with a thunderous carry down the middle before following up later in the set when powering onto Paul McShane’s last-tackle dummy-half pass.

However, a devastating spell of three tries in just six minutes suddenly saw Leeds – who had lost their opener at Leigh – in full control.

Chris Hankinson’s well-placed grubber forced a drop-out and, from there, Miller’s pass found Sivo proving too big for Ben Jones-Bishop.

Croft broke clear from his own 20m from the kick-off as Hall finished off a stellar, flowing move involving Miller again and Danny Levi.

But more was to come when Miller danced across the York defensive line, keeping the ball alive before finding Kallum Watkins, whose sublime pass found Hankinson for Leeds’ fourth try.

Connor’s third conversion sent his side in 22-6 ahead and it would need some resurgence of Brisbane Broncos proportions to give the Knights a shot.

However, while the NRL champions’ narrowly failed to overturn KR’s big advantage in Thursday’s thrilling World Club Challenge, it wasn’t anywhere near as close here.

Miller’s disguised short pass slipped Watkins over, but that was chalked off for obstruction.

It didn’t matter. Just as York, who continued trying to play with the ball, looked like opening them up, Hall popped up to intercept Nikau Williams’ pass to race 60m in the 50th minute and it was game over.

Still, Mark Applegarth’s time are full of spirit, as illustrated in that historic opening-night win.

And, so, when Liam Harris dummied through on halfway with a smooth run, Jordan Thompson’s finish was fully-deserved on his 200th Super League appearance.

But Harris missed the simple conversion and Croft glided through a huge gap to score a solo try of his own.

Croft then turned provider for a Newman try before Fiji star Sivo got his double, doing his chances of featuring in Vegas no harm at all.

By the time Scott Galeano got a well-worked last-minute consolation, the gulf in class was clear to see.

GAMESTAR: Lachlan Miller was just too hot for York to handle, always getting them desperately defending.

GAMEBREAKER: Ryan Hall’s intercept try in the 50th minute ended any faint hope of York getting back into this.

HIGHLIGHT REEL: Maika Sivo bulldozing around on debut – and also showing some dazzling footwork close to the touchline to leave Ben Jones-Bishop clutching at thin air – was great to see after his 14 months on the sidelines.

ALBERT GOLDTHORPE POINTS
3 pts Lachlan Miller (Leeds)
2 pts Maika Sivo (Leeds)
1 pt Brodie Croft (Leeds)

MATCHFACTS

RHINOS
1 Lachlan Miller
5 Ryan Hall
3 Harry Newman
14 Chris Hankinson
2 Maika Sivo (D)
6 Brodie Croft
7 Jake Connor
15 Cooper Jenkins
23 Danny Levi
10 Tom Holroyd
11 Kallum Watkins
12 James McDonnell
17 Cameron Smith
Subs (all used)
19 Jeremiah Mata’utia (D)
9 Jarrod O’Connor
21 Keenan Palasia
16 Ethan O’Neill
18th man (not used)
27 George Brown
Also in 21-man squad
24 Ned McCormack
25 Ben Littlewood
26 Tom Nicholson-Watton

Tries: McDonnell (11), Sivo (28, 67), Hall (31, 50), Hankinson (36), Croft (60), Newman (64)
Goals: Connor 7/8

KNIGHTS
1 Toa Mata’afa
2 Ben Jones-Bishop
4 Sam Wood
21 Kieran Buchanan
5 Scott Galeano
26 Nikau Williams
7 Liam Harris
10 Paul Vaughan
9 Paul McShane
15 Xavier Va’a
20 Oli Field
11 Josh Griffin
13 Jordan Thompson
Subs (all used)
8 Jack Martin
16 Justin Sangaré
14 Denive Balmforth
31 King Vuniyayawa
18th man (not used)
22 John Sagaga
Also in 21-man squad
6 Ata Hingano
12 Jesse Dee
19 Danny Richardson

Tries: Vaughan (18), Thompson (57), Galeano (80)
Goals: Harris 1/3

SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 6-6, 10-6, 16-6, 22-6; 28-6, 28-10, 34-10, 40-10, 46-10, 46-14

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Rhinos: Lachlan Miller; Knights: Liam Harris

Penalty count: 6-4
Half-time: 22-6
Referee: James Vella
Attendance: 15,232