Danny Brough goes on rampage as Wakefield sweep aside distracted Leeds

Leeds Rhinos have made no secret of their desire to regain their World Club Challenge crown against Melbourne Storm later this month, but a second consecutive Super League defeat hardly bodes well for their chances. Brian McClennan's side were thoroughly outplayed 28-18 by a Wakefield team that heads the table after Danny Brough's inspirational display. The experienced half-back has started the season in fine form alongside his new stand-off Ben Jeffries, and the pair were among the try scorers as the Wildcats established a 26-6 advantage before the Rhinos stirred in the final quarter. For much of the contest Leeds were error-prone and ill-disciplined, with even the usually unflappable Kevin Sinfield finding himself sin binned following a string of team offences. McClennan will not have been amused either by the concession of an interception try and penalties for dissent, though he expressed disappointment that his captain Sinfield was unable to get any feedback from the 26-year-old referee James Child over a one-sided penalty count. "The captain needs to be able to talk to the referee," said McClennan, who insisted that the Melbourne game should not be used as an excuse for the defeat. "We've got them [Melbourne] at the back of our minds, but we've been here before – this is the third one in a row we've prepared for. There is some light at the end of the tunnel and we can fix things." Wakefield were ahead from the 10th minute, when a superb Shane Tronc off-load freed Brough, and Jeffries supported to send Sean Gleeson racing over. Jeffries himself extended the lead by splitting a poor attempted tackle from Keith Senior and Jamie Jones-Buchanan, though the Rhinos did respond before the break when Danny McGuire skipped over under the posts. It would be McGuire, however, who would gift the initiative back to the home side when his pass was picked off by Brough, who surprisingly out-paced Ryan Hall on an 80-metre run to the line. When Brough's wide kick saw Daryl Millard out-jump Scott Donald to score, Wakefield held a 20-point lead. The Rhinos rallied briefly when Donald crossed twice within the space of six minutes, but Brough's penalty – one of 17 awarded against the Rhinos – settled any late Wildcat nerves. "He's not bad is he?" the Wakefield coach John Kear said of his scrum-half. "I think Lee Briers at Warrington is a great reader of the game, but Danny is right up there with him." Wakefield Trinity Wildcats Murphy; Morton, Gleeson, Millard, George; Jeffries, Brough; Tronc, Obst, Korkidas, Morrison, Demetriou, Leo-Latu. Interchange Newton, Ferguson, Moore, Henderson. Tries Gleeson, Jeffries, Brough, Millard Goals Brough 6. Leeds Rhinos Webb; Donald, Watkins, Senior, Hall; McGuire, Burrow; Leuluai, Buderus, Peacock, Jones-Buchanan, Eastwood, Sinfield. Interchange Diskin, Kirke, Lauitiiti, Bailey. Tries McGuire, Donald 2 Goals Sinfield 2, Burrow. Referee J Child (Dewsbury) Attendance 9,783.