Yummy Momi
PAUL LAUNCHES RHINOS’ CHARGE
AUSSIE recruit it Paul P l Momirovski finally opened his Leeds account to get them back to winning ways.
The off-season signing from Sydney Roosters failed to score in his opening five Rhinos games.
But his brace at the start of the second half turned a dour game in their favour – and left Castleford still seeking a Super League win.
Fellow Aussie Lachie Miller followed up with his own try double.
Yet Tigers will be kicking themselves after messing up in the rain.
The West Yorkshire derby had been scoreless at the break.
But Craig Lingard’s side had mastered the tricky conditions far better than Leeds. Jacob
Miller’s deft kicks helped force five goalline drop-outs in the first half alone.
Yet, worryingly, they never really looked like scoring.
The closest they came was with an early 43m Miller penalty effort which struck a post.
And, typically, ruthless Leeds made them pay.
NRL Grand Final winner Momirovski broke the deadlock in the 42nd minute after Innes Senior flapped at Brodie Croft’s high kick kick. And the centre added his second just 10 minutes later after a fine break from James McDonnell.
Rhyse Martin converted both and then added a penalty when Danny Richardson messed up a Castleford drop-out.
Full-back Miller crossed after an unchallenged Ash Handley palmed down Matt Frawley’s kick for Martin to make it 20-0 in the 65th minute.
Josh Simm gave the hosts hope six minutes later with Richardson converting.
But that was quickly extinguished when Miller dashed in for his second.
The visitors lost Harry Newman to a head wound after just 28 minutes.
The England centre passed his HIA but did not return due to the severity of the cut.
And Rohan Smith’s side were able to press on without him to secure victory.
However, they were all over the shop initially. Croft spilled after Liam Watts’ big hit.
And later on, veteran prop Watts intercepted the ex-Man of Steel’s inside pass to storm 20m before being hauled down.
Castleford were far more purposeful but the second half was a different story as Leeds bounced back from successive defeats to St Helens.