Blake Austin took inspiration from Leeds legend Rob Burrow as he zipped around Headingley cutting humiliated Huddersfield to shreds.
Rhinos icon Burrow, 40, made an emotional appearance at his old stomping ground as part of the club’s MND Awareness match. His daughters Macy and Maya brilliantly took over the pre-match build-up, interviewing the coaches and Sky Sports pundit Barrie McDermott.
Wife Lindsey and son Jackson also played their part as the Burrow family gained standing ovations. And when the main action kicked off, Aussie stand-off Austin played like Burrow - diagnosed with MND four years ago - in his pomp with a dazzling display that left shambolic Huddersfield chasing shadows.
The ex-Great Britain international, 32, wonderfully cut through to create two first half tries as rampant Leeds ended a four-match losing streak in style. After Sam Walters opened the scoring, Austin accelerated into the Giants line, beating a clutch of defenders with footwork and strength before sending Richie Myler over.
And the often-maligned former Warrington player was at it again soon after when he slickly dipped his shoulder and dummied past Nathan Peats to set up England winger Ash Handley. Austin’s kicking game, including one terrific 40/20, caused Ian Watson’s embarrassed side all sorts of problems as they crashed to an awful seventh defeat in eight games.
But it was a perfect response from Leeds who’d been embarrassed by becoming the first team this season to lose to bottom-placed, 12-man Wakefield in their last outing. Luis Roberts and Handley also had tries ruled out before David Fusitu’a celebrated his return from a 10 week absence with their fourth try.
Rhyse Martin improved three of them for a 22-0 interval lead and things didn’t get better for under-pressure Watson after the break. James McDonnell quickly extended Rhinos’ advantage and - after Giants winger Innes Senior was yellow-carded for a professional foul - Walters barged over for his second.
Austin stepped up with more craft to help create another for Martin who also finished with nine goals. Fusitu’a got his second from Richie Myler’s chip before Martin’s second brought up the half-ton for Leeds whose hooker Jarrod O'Connor has signed a new three-year deal.
Huddersfield welcomed back ex-England winger Jermaine McGillvary for his first game since April. But he was powerless to prevent this woeful display unfolding. There was a minute’s silence before kick-off for Bev Risman, the dual-code international who represented Leeds and England as well the British Lions who has died at the age of 85.
