Leeds Rhinos: Opportunity knocks for hat-trick hero Keinhorst

Jimmy Keinhorst goes in to score his hat-trick try. Picture Jonathan Gawthorpe.

SIX DAYS ago he captained a young Leeds Rhinos team which was thrashed 50-12 at Keighley Cougars.

Today he was landing in Australia to begin preparations for the World Club Challenge.

It hasn’t been a normal sort of week for Leeds Rhinos’ German international Jimmy Keinhorst, but sport is all about opportunities and Keinhorst took his when it unexpectedly arrived ahead of the Betfred Super League round two clash with Hull KR.

Joel Moon wasn’t risked due to a leg injury, so Liam Sutcliffe moved to stand-off and Keinhorst received a call-up at centre.

Jimmy Keinhorst celebrates his hat-trick try.

He responded by scoring a hat-trick in Rhinos’ 20-11 success which will send them into Friday’s world title match against NRL champions Melbourne Storm with two victories under their belt.

Reflecting on a whirlwind few days, Keinhorst said: “I came into the team on Wednesday when Moony dropped out.

“He wasn’t right, so I came in for the team run and hopefully I did a good enough job for the team.”

Keinhorst’s hat-trick – one try late in the first half and the other two in the final 12 minutes – was the difference between the sides, after Leeds had trailed 10-0 and 11-10.

Jimmy Keinhorst scores his second try against Hull KR.

It was an error-ridden performance by the champions, but outstanding goalline defence kept them in the game and a strong finish to both halves saw them home.

“It’s not all about scoring tries,” Keinhorst added.

“Obviously it was nice to score a few tries, but I wasn’t happy with a couple of bits and I’ll have to keep working hard on those. I am always looking to improve, but it was good from the team to grind it out.

“We didn’t adapt well to the conditions at the start, so to get ourselves back in the contest and get the win was good for us.

“They started the game better than us and played the conditions far better.

“They were in it for the full 80 and it was a tough game.

“Credit to them, they pushed us all the way, but we stayed in the contest.

“We were down a couple of subs in the second half, which made it tough, but it was a good effort by the boys.”

Keinhorst had not expected to be travelling to Melbourne, but is determined to make the most of it.