• Published11 September 2026, 22:03 BST

Tries: Hankinson, Watkins Goals: Connor 2

Hull FC (6) 18

Tries: Moy, Kemp, Clark Goals: Kemp 3

Lowly Hull FC stunned second-placed Leeds Rhinos to end a dire Super League season in style.

The result, coupled with Wigan Warriors' thumping 50-12 win over Catalans Dragons, saw Matt Peet's men claim the League Leaders' Shield.

Hull FC have endured an incredibly difficult 2026 but took a deserved lead through Logan Moy's score before Chris Hankinson's try made it 6-6 at the break.

Lloyd Kemp put the Black and Whites back in front after Leeds failed with a short drop-out and, after the home side blew chances to level the scores with handling errors, Lennon Clark went over.

Kallum Watkins set up a big finish with a try with three minutes to go but the hard-working visitors held out for a shock win.

Brad Arthur's Leeds side were badly disjointed in attack throughout against a team who had won seven of 26 games going into Friday's meeting and have now lost four of their past nine games.

They will have two weeks to stew on this result before hosting their play-off semi-final on Friday, 25 September.

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Black and Whites save best for Last

It has been a year to forget for Hull FC.

Head coach John Cartwright left in acrimonious circumstances in March after being told his contract would not be extended beyond this season, with the club appointing former England coach Steve McNamara to take over for 2027.

Andy Last was placed in interim charge but the season crumbled to the extent that, amid a 12-match losing run, the owners issued a statement in July to apologise to the club's fans.

However, this win over an admittedly out-of-sorts Leeds will give players, fans and incoming coach McNamara hope for the future.

Their three tries came from young home grown players in Kemp, 19, and Moy and Clark, both 21, and they showed a grit in defence that had been lacking for all too much of this season.

Victory also saw retiring club legend Tom Briscoe go out in style in what was his 400th and final Super League appearance.

Leeds welcomed back the league's leading try-scorer Maika Sivo after two months out with a broken arm but he, like his team-mates, was way below his best.

The Rhinos went unbeaten at Headingley until August but have now lost their past three games in front of their own fans.

A fourth straight loss in their upcoming semi-final would see a campaign that had promised so much fall short of the Grand Final.

'Result nothing short of amazing' - reaction

Leeds head coach Brad Arthur told BBC Radio Leeds:

"I thought we dominated field position and possession, I just thought we were poor on our edges with our execution. We created more than enough opportunities and we didn't ice them.

"The forwards couldn't have done any more. We kicked when we should have passed, passed when we should have kicked or there was poor selection with the pass, poor catch. Our skill level wasn't good enough.

"We lacked urgency. They scored from a drop-out. That isn't good enough.

"Our last two weeks haven't been great but in 14 days that isn't going to count for anything really. We've got five or six sessions leading into the game to recover and make sure everyone knows what their job is.

"We are 80 minutes from Old Trafford and we've got to get it right."

Hull FC interim head coach Andy Last told BBC Radio Humberside:

"Outstanding. 18-12 away to Leeds on the back of them hurting after losing in a big game to Wigan, to come up with the effort and the performance and that result is nothing short of amazing.

"They dominated position and possession and we consistently turned them away. Our spirit, our desire and our grit and determination was evident for everyone to see. It's a fantastic way to finish the season.

"I'm absolutely not sad [the season is over]. It's been very challenging mentally, emotionally and physically for myself. That game probably typifies the season that we've had - you just don't know what you are going to get from this Hull FC group."

Leeds: Handley, Sivo, Newman, Bird, Hall, Croft, Connor, Oledzki, O'Connor, Lodge, Cassell, Hankinson, Palasia.

Interchanges: Smith, Watkins, Jenkins, Holroyd.

Hull FC: Moy, Barron, Litten, Briscoe, Martin, Bailey, Arthur, Ese'ese, Kemp, Hill, Romano, O'Neill, Bell.

Interchanges: Clark, Hardaker, Laidlaw, Salabio.

Referee: Aaron Moore.