ROVERDRIVE
Jez is at the wheel as Rhinos lagging
JEZ LITTEN ran the show for Hull KR on another night of card drama.
Leeds saw James Donaldson and Sam Lisone sin-binned for high tackles.
And Rovers, who saw Peta Hiku yellow carded early on, punished them both times to make it two wins from two.
With fellow hooker Matt Parcell banned, livewire Litten played all 80 minutes.
He set up Sauaso Sue’s first-half try and, after Hiku’s nightmare with the boot in last week’s derby win, he also slotted all five goals as KR’s third-choice kicker.
There was a minute’s applause before kick-off for Rob Crossland, the popular former KR vice-chairman who died aged 57 after a battle with cancer.
Leeds, who lost Lachie Miller after he was taken ill in the warm-up, trailed just 14-12 after Ash Handley’s second wonder try in as many games just before the hour.
After his 90m solo effort against Salford, this was a similar distance but more down to Brodie Croft’s brilliance.
The Aussie stand-off audaciously launched a pinpoint cross-field kick on the second tackle 10m from his own line. Handley, who’d switched from wing to centre to collect, gathered on the full and sped away before stepping Niall Evalds.
But Lisone’s 67th-minute high shot on Elliot Minchella saw Litten make it 16-12. And then Hiku scored after latching on to Tyrone May’s grubber.
Rovers led 8-6 at the break after Donaldson copped Oliver Gildart high and Litten slotted a penalty on the hooter.
Given the new rules on head contact, you could see the panic in Donaldson’s face as he awaited his fate.
The ex-KR loose forward was only yellow carded, probably because Gildart was slightly dipping, but it could easily have been red.
Rovers had been down to 12 men themselves after Hiku’s sixth-minute sin-binning for a professional foul.
Rhinos, who brought in 18th man Alfie Edgell for Miller, struck while he was off with Harry Newman’s 10thminute try on his 100th career appearance after good work from Croft.
Rhyse Martin slotted the first of his two conversions but Ryan Hall’s try at the start of the second period put KR in firm control.
Litten converted from wide out and they were on their way to two wins from two.