GIANTS .............. 12 Season finishes

Jordan Rankin, Jared Simpson, Alex Mellor, Jordan Turner, Darnell McIntosh, Lee Gaskell, Danny Brough, Sam Rapira, Kruise Leeming, Sebastine Ikahihifo, Michael Lawrence, Ryan Hinchcliffe, Ukuma Ta’ai. Adam O’Brien, Paul Clough, Daniel Smith, Nathan Mason. Lawrence Hinchcliffe Brough handed the centre berth inside him.

Michael Lawrence concluded an injury-hit season with a place in the starting line-up.

Danny Brough at half back started his 300th Super League match and Sam Rapira was on the pitch to accept the applause of the John Smith’s Stadium crowd as he made his final appearance before heading to Toulouse next season.

But it was a much-changed Leeds team who made the better start with Kallum Watkins scoring in the corner after two minutes and adding the goal.

Watkins’ initial score exposed the lack of experience on the Giants flank with skipper Leroy Cudjoe and England international winger Jermaine McGillvary both absent.

But after the visitors initial surge the Giants began to exert some influence going forward.

Ukuma Ta’ai pushed towards the line in the best effort of the opening 20 minutes but as the chance went begging the Leeds response was almost instant.

On 21 minutes the Rhinos, already booked in for a semi-final place in the Super League playoffs, cut the Giants defence to shreds on the left and veteran maestro Danny McGuire nipped in off the right to score, but Watkins’ kick was off target.

The lead was extended five minute later as Joel Moon provided the prompt for Jimmy Keinhorst to cross the line and Watkins added the goal.

Giants hopes we’re not helped as Ta’ai limped off the field, but they got on the scoreboard on 31 minutes as hometown product Michael Lawrence managed to get his hand on a grubber kick from Ryan Hinchcliffe for a try.

Brough added the extras to extend his scoring run against the Rhinos to 24 matches.

Giants’ Mellor was bloodbinned on the stroke of half-time but the home side ended the half going forward, only for the ball to be fumbled just as a promising move was stretching the Leeds