The Kiwis have beaten Super League champions Leeds 34-16 in the opening match of the New Zealand rugby league team's tour of England.
New Zealand's Roger Tuivasa-Sheck makes a break. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The home side posted the first try and snatched the lead again early in the second half, but the Kiwis' attacking class eventually told in a seven-tries-to-three result - with new co-captain Issac Luke and back-up hooker Kodi Nikorima at the forefront.
The under-strength Rhinos - missing England stars Ryan Hall, Kallum Watkins and Zak Hardaker, as well as the retiring Sinfield and Peacock - signalled their intentions early by moving the ball at every opportunity.
New Zealand-born Kylie Leuluai was denied a fairytale try against his countrymen in the 10th minute courtesy of a forward-pass call.
Fullback Roger Tuivasa-Sheck's last-line defence was required on multiple occasions during the opening exchanges, snuffing out exciting breaks by Rhinos hooker Robbie Ward and his opposing fullback Ashton Golding.
Luke and Ben Matulino made big inroads for the tourists in the free-flowing opening quarter of the match.
A succession of handling errors frustrated the Kiwis' objective of getting a roll on, and the Rhinos were rewarded for their consistent enterprise with the first try in the 27th minute.
Former Broncos and Warriors centre Joel Moon brilliantly scooped up a Danny McGuire grubber to dot down for the belated first try and a 6-0 lead for the hosts.
The try stunned New Zealand into action.
Jason Nightingale made a long break in the Kiwis' ensuing set, and scored their first try with a trademark finish out wide - after some fine work inside by debutant centre Jordan Kahu - from the resultant line drop-out.
Luke drilled the conversion from the sideline and helped the Kiwis take a 10-6 lead into the break, making another dummy-half bust to send Kahu away.
The 24-year-old produced an acrobatic leap to touch down in the corner just seconds before the halftime hooter.
New Zealand was quick out of the blocks in the second stanza, but the visitors were unable to capitalise on more electrifying ball-running from Luke.
A couple of unfavourable refereeing decisions put the Kiwis on the back foot again, and they received another wake-up call 13 minutes into the half when Moon wrestled his way over for a double.
Rhinos halfback Jordan Lilley slotted the conversion from out wide for a 12-10 advantage.
The Kiwis hit the front again with 18 minutes left, however, as Nikorima made an immediate impact after replacing Luke, holding up a short ball for Jesse Bromwich to stroll over under the posts.
Nikorima featured heavily as the Kiwis went back-to-back, producing three deft touches in a 70-metre movement that eventually led to centre Dean Whare diving over out wide.
Tuivasa-Sheck, who made the break in the lead-up to Whare's score, crossed for the Kiwis' third try in the space of seven minutes a couple of sets later.
The Rhinos hit back in the 70th minute via a piece of magic from former Kiwi second-row stalwart Ali Lauiti'iti, backing up Golding and offloading superbly for winger Tom Briscoe to score in the corner.
But Bromwich returned the favour for Nikorima, who capped a dream debut off the bench by stepping his way over from close range, to clinch the result with three minutes left.
Tuivasa-Sheck put an exclamation mark on the win with his second try in the dying stages, icing an 18-point triumph.
- AAP
