Betfred Super League title contenders Leeds Rhinos ran in eight tries to end Salford Red Devils' slender semi-final hopes with a thumping 44-2 win at Headingley.
Rhinos dominate to eliminate Salford from the top 4 running#SLLeeSal #Super8s pic.twitter.com/RqHl6ITfu5
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) September 15, 2017
The Red Devils ended their eight-game losing run in emphatic fashion against Huddersfield last week but their season is over after they were blown away by a Rhinos side already guaranteed a home semi-final.
Veterans Rob Burrow and Danny McGuire, who came through the academy together, gave the Rhinos fans a moment to savour before they both depart at the end of the season. Burrow made a darting break from dummy half and McGuire was in support to finish as Leeds took a firm grip on the match in the first half.
Liam Sutcliffe and Tom Briscoe scored either side of McGuire's try to give the Rhinos a 16-2 half-time lead after they had gone behind to Gareth O'Brien's early penalty.
Matt Parcell helped himself to a double off the bench to take his try tally for the year to 19 while Adam Cuthbertson, Anthony Mullally and Brett Ferres also crossed as Leeds made it 10 straight home wins over Salford in style.
MAJOR THROWBACK from Burrow & McGuire âªðŸ˜² @Rob7Burrow like Roadrunner and @DannyMcguire6 moving like a train for @leedsrhinos​ last night pic.twitter.com/MDwAV0DMvg
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) September 16, 2017
Leeds coach Brian McDermott said: “I’ve got to say Tom Briscoe, and you all know where he’s been this year, that type of performance under that amount of pressure is not to be sniffed at.
“Every team kicks to him and he’s answered all the questions over the last two months. He’s had a pretty good offensive game as well."
Salford coach Ian Watson said: “The top four has gone for us but the fact that we’ve stuck in and still been in with a chance with two games to go is big progress.
“We’ve had a bad run of late but that doesn’t tell the full story of how far we’ve come as a team.”
