Leeds Rhinos moved two points clear at the top of the Betfred Super League with a 42-12 win over Bradford Bulls at Headingley, bouncing back from last Sunday's defeat to Castleford Tigers in emphatic fashion. BBC Sport

It was a milestone afternoon for second-rower James McDonnell, who celebrated his 100th Super League appearance with two tries. Seven different Rhinos crossed the whitewash in total — McDonnell, O'Connor, Holroyd, Croft, Jenkins and Watkins — while Jake Connor kicked seven goals to pile on the points. By halftime, Leeds led 18-6 and never looked like surrendering the advantage.

Bradford, to their credit, started brightly. Centre Guy Armitage opened the scoring with an early try that gave the visitors a foothold, and Ethan Ryan added a second in the second half. Jordan Hooley kicked two goals. But the Bulls could not match Leeds's attacking rhythm and slipped to a sixth defeat in their last seven Super League matches — a run that will concern head coach Eamon O'Carroll as the season enters its closing stretch.

The scoreline, though convincing, carries a sobering footnote for Leeds. Winger Maika Sivo, the league's top try scorer this season, was substituted in the first half with a suspected broken arm. Sivo has been central to Leeds's attacking potency all year, and any extended absence would be a significant blow to a side chasing top spot and a home play-off. The club is expected to confirm the extent of the injury in the coming days.

For Leeds, the result restores momentum at a critical point in Round 20 of the 2026 season. The loss to Castleford had briefly checked their charge, allowing the chasing pack to close the gap. A seven-try response at Headingley, with goals landed at a perfect rate by Connor, sends a clear message about their attacking depth even without relying on Sivo for the full 80 minutes. McDonnell's century milestone added a layer of personal celebration to a team performance that put daylight between Leeds and the rest.

Referee Aaron Moore had a relatively straightforward afternoon, with the match flowing without major controversy. The 3pm kick-off in the West Yorkshire sunshine drew a healthy crowd to AMT Headingley Stadium for a fixture steeped in local rivalry — the old Rhinos-Bulls derby may no longer be the regular headline it was in the early 2000s, but the occasion still carries weight for both sets of supporters. Super League

Bradford's priority now is arresting a slide that has seen them win just once in seven. Leeds, meanwhile, will wait on Sivo's scan results with fingers crossed — and plan to keep their lead at the summit growing.