The Rhinos lost out on the scoreboard by 20-16 against Hull FC but Leeds stalwart Jamie Jones-Buchanan was the real winner in his testimonial game at Headingley Carnegie.
The Rhinos were able to field their strongest side of the pre-season in honour of Jamie Jones-Buchanan with 11 of the team who had retained the title at Old Trafford in action.
However, it was Hull FC who scored the first try of the game after four minutes when Graeme Horne was quickest to react to a through kick and touched down to give the Airlie Birds the perfect start. Danny Tickle added the conversion to make it 6-0.
That lead was doubled after 11 minutes when former Rhino Ewan Dowes took a short pass five metres out and was able to force his way passed a would be tackler to score next to the post. Tickle added the simple conversion to make it 12-0.
The Rhinos worked hard to try and find a way through with Lee Smith going closest however both teams showed the effects of early season lack of practise with a number of knock ons littering the first half.
The game sparked into life just short of the half hour mark when Willie Manu aimed a flurry of punches at Carl Ablett, who was penalised by referee Gareth Hewer for holding on whilst Manu appeared to go without a warning.
The Rhinos came out fired up at the start of the second half with Keith Senior running hard at the Hull defence. They were denied their first try of the game when Senior offloaded to Ryan Hall after 43 minutes but the touch judge waved to signal that the winger had put a foot in touch.
However, the Grand Final try scorer was not to be denied two minutes later when this time he cut back inside from a Senior offload and scooted over for the try. Simon Brown was off target with the conversion so it remained 12-4.
The Rhinos continued to press hard looking for another score to cut the deficit however they suffered a blow against the run of play when Scott Donald was unable to keep hold a high kick and from the next set of six, Tom Briscoe crossed for his side's third try of the game. Tickle added the conversion to make it 18-4 after 51 minutes.
Leeds remained calm despite some tough defender by the visitors and eventually got their reward when a well weighted kick by Simon Brown was caught on the bounce by Ryan Hall, who went over for his second try of the game after 58 minutes. Brown added the conversion to make it 18-10.
Hull missed out on fourth try soon afterwards when they knocked on over the line from an error by the Rhinos. They then turned the screw by forcing Ashley Gibson dead in goal and the home side had to defend stoutly to repel the Hull FC advance. Eventually, the ball was spilled and Kallum Watkins set off on a 60 metre dash up field only to have the ball ripped from his grasp by a chasing Mark Calderwood.
The Rhinos tried valiantly in the final minutes to create a try to send the 5,000 plus crowd home with something to smile about and it came in the final minute when Carl Ablett crossed after taking a long pass from Matt Diskin. Brown added the conversion to make it 18-16 however time beat the Rhinos to stage a dramatic winning fightback.
Hull were awarded a penalty in the final minute and Tickle rounded off the game with a kick at goal to make the final score 20-16 to the Airlie Birds.
Leeds Rhinos: Smith, Donald, Watkins, Senior, Hall, Brown, Leuluai, Diskin, Peacock, Jones-Buchanan, Lauitiiti, Ablett
Subs: McShane, Burgess, Kirke, Gibson, Ambler
Hull FC: Byrne, Calderwood, G Horne, Yeaman, Briscoe, R Horne, Thorman, Dowes, Houghton, Cusack, Burnett, Tickle, Radford
Subs: Lee, Hall, Thackray, Manu, Hodgson
Referee: Gareth Hewer
Attendance: 5,329
