Veteran Keith Senior helped set up Leeds' opening try

Leeds: (4) 20
Tries: Donald, Smith (2), McGuire
Goals: Sinfield (2)

Hull KR: (6) 12
Tries: Jake Webster (2)
Goals: Jake Webster, Murrell

Champions Leeds left it late to snatch victory over Hull KR as the new season got off to a thrilling start.

Scott Donald opened the scoring in the left-hand corner, before Jake Webster stretched to get the ball down on the try-line for Rovers, adding a goal.

After enduring a Leeds battering after the restart, Webster charged half the length of the field to score.

Danny McGuire's pass and kick-through set up Lee Smith for two Leeds tries before he scored the clincher himself.

Leeds had the better of the opening exchanges, and went ahead when Donald was left unmarked to get on the end of Keith Senior's pass and score in the corner.

But the introduction of Ben Cockayne drew instant rewards for Rovers, as his incisive run allowed Webster touch down for a try.

After a cagey first half, the tempo of the game rose visibly after the restart.

Leeds had the visitors on the back foot so it was a shock when Rovers stretched their lead, which happened when the Rhinos seemed to pause en masse for a breather after a passing move broke down.

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From the resulting turn-over, the ball came to Webster on the half-way line, and his electric pace left the defence trailing in his wake as he charged in to score.

Ryan Bailey's double move wasted a great scoring chance for Leeds, but within minutes Smith made inroads into Rovers' lead, flying over in the right-hand corner as he rounded off a cross-field passing move, involving two superb contributions by McGuire.

Sensing there was another try in the offing, Leeds piled everything into attack and wasted another great chance when Clinton Toopi's wayward pass to Rob Burrow brought the move grinding to a halt.

McGuire was integral again as Ben Gallea fumbled his kick-through and Smith was quickest to react and score, with Kevin Sinfield adding the goal.

Ultimately, the home side's domination of second-half possession proved decisive and McGuire powered over for a deserved try at the death to seal victory.

Leeds: Webb, Donald, Toopi, Senior, Smith, McGuire, Burrow, Leuluai, Diskin, Peacock, Kirke, Ellis, Sinfield. Replacements: Lauitiiti, Bailey, Scruton, Ablett.

Hull K R: Briscoe, Fox, Walker, J. Webster, Fitzhenry, Chester, J. Webster, Vella, K. Netherton, Mills, Newton, Galea, Murrell. Replacements: Gene, Crossman, Aizue, Cockayne.

Referee: R Silverwood (Dewsbury)