Leeds Rhinos lose star player and Women's Super League opener: stand-off heading to NRLW

Roche was Woman of Steel in 2018 and joined Rhinos from Castleford ahead of last season. Her performances in last autumn’s World Cup placed her top of a list of English-based players being linked with Aussie clubs and a move to National Rugby League Women’s (NRLW) side Newcastle Knights is expected to be confirmed this week.

Roche’s Rhinos and England teammate Fran Goldthorpe - ruled out of the opener because of England under-20s rugby union duty - is also being linked with a move to the NRLW along with Hollie-Mae Dodd, who was a try scorer for York at Headingley.

Rhinos, including off-season signings Amy Hardcastle, Georgia Hale, Berthan Dainton and Izzy Northrop, were out-played in the second-half after an evenly-fought first, in front of a Women’s Super League record crowd of 5,308.

York topped the table last year before losing to Leeds in the Grand Final and look strong again, scoring six tries to Rhinos’ two.

They led three times in the first-half, through touchdowns by Tamzin Renouf, Ashleigh Hyde and Dodd.

The first two were cancelled out by Keara Bennett - after York had Jasmin Bell sin-binned for a dangerous tackle on Zoe Hornby - and Eloise Hayward, both converted by Sam Hulme.

She crossed from short-range after a defence-splitting break by Caitlin Beevers, but that score - on 26 minutes - was Leeds’ last.

The visitors led 18-12 at half-time and Liv Gale moved them two scores clear early in the second stanza.

Leeds struggled to get into Valkyrie territory and Stanley - who converted York’s first four tries - carved their defence open to seal it with 15 minutes left.

The full-back booted a penalty and Ellie Hendry completed York’s comprehensive win with a try on the final play.

Leeds Rhinos: Nuttall, Hayward, Butcher, Beevers, Robinson, Casey, Hulme, Hornby, Bennett, Northrop, Hardcastle, Dainton, Hale. Subs Earnshaw-Cudjoe, Anderson, Lockwood, Frain.

York Valkyrie: Stanley, Hendry, Renouf, Kershaw, Hyde, Hetherington, Gale, Wood, Peach, Bell, Owen, Andrade, Dodd. Stubs Staveley, Marshall, Rihari, Field.

Referee: Ryan Cox (St Helens).

Attendance: 5,308.