Leeds Rhinos: Harsh calls cost us dear says Rhinos boss McDermott

Leeds slipped to sixth in Betfred Super League after being beaten by Marc Sneyd’s drop goal four minutes from the end.

They had been defeated in similar fashion by Wigan Warriors six days earlier when Sam Tomkins landed the winning one-pointer at the same time in the game.

Three of Rhinos’ four defeats this year have been by a point and they also had a draw at Huddersfield on Easter Monday.

Rhinos trailed 14-0 early in the second half, but scored three converted tries in 10 minutes to go ahead.

“Hull played really well, they were better than us and ran stronger. They defended well and were good for the win,” McDermott reflected.

But he insisted game are being marred by too many penalties.

McDermott insisted he was not making a point about referee Ben Thaler, who was also in charge of the clash with Wigan last Friday.

But he said: “I thought we were on the end of some harsh calls.

McDermott described Rhinos’ second half performance as “outstanding”.

He said: “For us to get back into it was great. “I am proud of what we did, disappointed we lost.

“But for one or two moments in the second half we’d have got that game.

“I don’t know if you can have such a thing, but it was a good loss.”

Forward Stevie Ward seemed to pick up an injury in the second half, but McDermott said he was “okay” after the game.