Leeds Rhinos have clinched the final Super League playoff spot courtesy of a late comeback victory over Castleford Tigers in their winner-takes-all encounter this afternoon.
The final match of the regular season was perfectly poised prior to kickoff, with just one point separating the local rivals either side of the playoff dotted line.
The nervousness of the occasion showed in the first half too as neither side managed to get on the scoreboard despite Leeds seeing the lion's share of possession and territory.
It was Castleford who finally broke the deadlock in the 51st minute when Paul McShane kicked over the first points of the contest, and the visitors added a converted try through Jake Mamo moments later to burst into an 8-0 lead.
However, their advantage never looked secure, and the Rhinos came charging back in the final 10 minutes, with Rhyse Martin getting them on the board from the tee to make it a one-score game once again.
Kruise Leeming crossed for that score to level things up after Martin's conversion, and while a draw would have been enough to see them qualify for the playoffs, Leeds went one better to secure the win through Aidan Sezer's 79th-minute try.
Leeds will now face Catalans Dragons in the Playoff Eliminators, with the winner of that contest going into the semi-finals.
Elsewhere in the Super League, Hull KR hammered local rivals Hull FC 36-4, Warrington Wolves beat Salford Red Devils 32-14 and St Helens survived a brief scare against Toulouse Olympique to run out 36-16 winners.
Barney Corkhill
