Leeds Rhinos reinforced their status as Super League title contenders with a decisive 50-16 victory over Bradford Bulls at the Hill Dickinson Stadium during the Magic Weekend. The win extended Leeds’ lead at the summit of the league table to four points, underscoring their strong start to the season.

Captain Ash Handley, who delivered an impressive performance by scoring a hat-trick of tries, acknowledged that while the result was convincing, the team remains focused on improving their overall standards. Handley highlighted that despite the comprehensive win, there were areas requiring attention, particularly in reducing errors and maintaining concentration throughout the match.

“We’re hungry. Our standards are high, and the way we pick apart our games when we review them – there’s quite a lot to look at,” Handley said. “There were quite a few errors in there, and we’re trying to keep our error count pretty low. I’m sure we’ll look at that and see where we can be better.”

Handley noted moments during the game when Leeds allowed Bradford to regain some momentum, conceding pressure that could have threatened their dominance. However, he emphasized the overall positive performance and the team’s ability to produce strong rugby in crucial fixtures.

A standout figure in the match was winger Maika Sivo, whose try extended his scoring streak to 10 consecutive games, setting a new Super League record. Sivo’s 28 tries to date this season put him on track to surpass the record of 37 tries in a campaign, set by Denny Solomona with Castleford in 2016.

“That’s what we’re chasing,” Handley remarked in reference to Sivo’s record-breaking form. “We want to get him as many as he can. He’s playing so well, and some of the tries he’s scored are unbelievable.”

As Leeds continue to build momentum, the focus remains on maintaining consistency and minimizing lapses, with the club aiming to sustain their title challenge by raising their performance standards as the season progresses.