LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
In a decisive 42-6 victory, Alfie Edgell's hat-trick propelled the Leeds Rhinos past the Salford Red Devils, revitalizing their Betfred Super League play-off aspirations at Headingley.
Leeds, coming off a disappointing home performance against St.
Helens, struggled initially and led Salford by just four points at halftime.
The Red Devils, amid turmoil following a crisis meeting concerning financial issues, appeared surprisingly confident after securing only their second win of the season against Castleford just a week prior.
Despite their determination, Salford couldn't maintain their resilience, conceding five tries in the second half.
Leeds' first 40 minutes were lackluster, with Edgell's two early tries and Jake Connor's subsequent conversions providing a slim lead.
Salford, despite their challenges, nearly broke the deadlock through Chris Hankinson and Joe Mellor but ultimately fell behind.
Edgell opened the scoring in the 19th minute and quickly followed up with another try just three minutes later after a well-orchestrated play started by Ryan Hall.
The match underscored Leeds Rhinos' capability to capitalize on opportunities, as they sought to regain momentum in the league after a rocky start.