Peter Smith's Leeds Rhinos player ratings and match report following heart-breaking loss to St Helens

Rhinos could not have given much more in the toughest of circumstances, losing three players – including both starting half-backs – to injury inside the first 32 minutes and finishing with 12 men after James McDonnell was sent-off.

Agonisingly, Rhyse Martin was short with a penalty goal in extra-time and Ash Handley and Richie Myler failed with one-point attempts before Lewis Dodd won it for Saints.

If ever there was an argument against golden point, this was it. The least Rhinos deserved was a point.

Already without the injured Blake Austin and Jack Sinfield, Leeds lost their only specialist half, Aidan Sezer, to an apparent groin injury, seconds after Handley scored the opening try.

Leeds, unexpectedly, were 12-4 ahead when centre Harry Newman suffered what appeared to be hamstring damage in a tackle and was helped off in clear pain, with 29 played.

Almost unbelievably, makeshift stand-off Morgan Gannon was the next to go down, just three minutes later, being chaired off by medical staff with damage to his right ankle.

At the start of the final quarter prop Tom Holroyd became the latest to hobble off, though he managed to return in the closing stages.

Rhinos were in front as late as the 69th minute and had chances to win it, including two touchdowns ruled out on video evidence, once after referee Liam Moore had signalled a try.

Handley’s touchdown came off a one-two with Martin who did well to make the break and use his support. Martin added the extras, but Saints replied with a four-pointer after 11 through a diving finish by Tommy Makinson from Jonny Lomax’s pass.

Incredibly, Rhinos scored the only other try of the first half, Cameron Smith following up to cross after Makinson and Jack Welsby collided trying to deal with Myler’s high kick. Martin converted.

Leeds were close to going in at the break three tries clear, but Moore and video assistant Marcus Griffiths ruled Sam Walters - just back on the field after passing a head injury assessment - had knocked on just short of the line.

Saints stepped up a gear at the start of the second half, Curtis Sironen going over from Dodd’s pass and Makinson tagging on the two.

Rhinos were desperately unlucky moments later when Justin Sangare juggled Holroyd’s pass before touching down; Moore indicated a try, but Griffiths decided there was conclusive evidence the ball had touched Saints forward Agnatius Paasi’s hand before the prop regathered and was therefore knocked on.

Makinson took the two to level the scores with 12 minutes left when Sangare was penalised and McDonnell was dismissed three minutes from time for an alleged punch.

Martin’s extra-time penalty, following a foul on Mikolaj Oledzki which led to Sione Mata’utia being sin-binned, fell short and both sides missed drop goal attempts before Dodd won it with a one-pointer with 32 seconds left.

Here’s how the Rhinos players rated.