Hull KR 25 Leigh 30.

Josh Charnley scored a 78th minute try as Leigh came from behind to register a thrilling opening Super League victory of the campaign at previously unbeaten Hull KR.

Adrian Lam’s side was heading for a third successive defeat until Charnley touched down his second of the night as Leopards led for the first time.

Ben Reynolds tagged on his fifth successful conversion and Leigh had their first top flight success since 2021.

Ex Hull FC winger Tom Briscoe also enjoyed his return to Humberside with a try double, including his 150th in Super League.

Leigh trailed 25-18 when Briscoe went over seven minutes from time before Charnley’s finishing skills sent players, coaches and visiting fans into raptures.

Prop Tom Amone scored Leigh’s other try in a victory that sets-up Leopards return to Leigh Sports Village against world champions, St Helens.

Lam’s squad, including debutant Joe Shorrocks, were soon under pressure and then behind on the scoreboard.

Briscoe dropped Jordan Abdull’s towering kick and from the resulting scrum Rovers scored on the final tackle.

Another Abdull kick caused more panic in the visitors’ defence and Kane Linnett laid off for Shaun Kenny-Dowall to crash over for a Will Dagger converted touch down.

Charnley went close to an instant reply before prop Amone bull dozed over with KR penned back by repeat sets and a penalty against Ethan Ryan for tackling Leutele without the ball. Reynolds converted.

Ricky Leutele’s knock on and Zak Hardaker’s missed tackle on Mikey Lewis saw the latter sprint 30 metres touch down. Dagger added the extras from the touchline to restore the Robins’ six-point lead.

The see-saw nature of the contest tipped back Leigh’s way nine minutes later. Amone’s initial drive, and Dagger’s knock-on set-up the position before slick hands worked the ball out for Briscoe to score his landmark try. Reynolds matched Dagger’s accuracy from wide out to tie the scores.

Lam’s celebrations of a third Leopards’ try were quickly cut short by Leutele’s forward pass. When it came, the next try went KR’s way with James Batchelor charging onto Sam Luckley’s short pass to touch down. Dagger goaled.

And 10 seconds from the break, Abdull’s drop goal increased the home side’s advantage.

Briscoe spilled a decent chance at the start of the second half while a Reynolds half break wasn’t matched by the kick ahead.

But Leopards scented another try and Charnley just managed to run-in O’Brien’s looping pass before the cover snared him. Reynolds goaled again from the touchline.

Outstanding defence kept Rovers at bay until Lewis broke and Abdull stepped inside Hardaker to register the Humbersiders’ fourth converted try Charnley was denied his second of the night by Lam’s forward pass but her and Leigh were far from finished.

Briscoe and then Charners’ found the home side’s edge defence wanting to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

Teams: Hull KR: Dagger; Ryan, Opacic, Kenny-Dowall, Hall; Lewis, Abdull; Sue, Litten, Kennedy, Batchelor, Linnett, Minchella; substitutes: Parcell, King, Halton, Luckley.

Tries: Kenny-Dowall (3), Lewis (14), Batchelor (36), Abdull (57).

Goals: Dagger 4/4.

DG: Abdull (40).

Leigh: O’Brien; Briscoe, Hardaker, Leutele, Charnley; Reynolds, Lam; Amone, Davis, Mulhern, Shorrocks, O’Donnell, Asiata; substitutes: Nakubuwai, Seumanufagai, Chamberlain, Ipape.

Tries: Amone (11), Briscoe (23, 73), Charnley (48), 78).

Goals: Reynolds 5/ 5.

Half-time: 19-12.

Referee: Liam Moore.

Attendance: 8448.