Leeds recovered from a half-time deficit to maintain the 100% start to their engage Super League title defence at Hull KR.

The champions trailed 10-4 after the impressive Shaun Briscoe cancelled out Carl Ablett's early try and Michael Dobson kicked three goals.

Ryan Hall led the fightback with a try early in the second half and youngster Kallum Watkins settled a tight battle eight minutes from time.

It was Leeds' third successive win and ensured they would go into next week's World Club Challenge against Manly Sea Eagles in good heart.

The only downside was a serious-looking injury to prop Ryan Bailey late on while Lee Smith also failed to finish.

The Rhinos had gone into the game at Craven Park without hooker Danny Buderus, their star winter signing from Newcastle Knights.

The former Australia international suffered a knock on debut against Wakefield last week and was not risked by coach Brian McClennan, possibly with one eye on the Manly clash.

His absence gave an opportunity for Matt Diskin to underline his value to the club while captain Kevin Sinfield returned from injury to play at half-back in the absence of Rob Burrow.

Things did not go according to plan for Diskin as he conceded a penalty that allowed Rovers to hit back and claim their half-time lead.

Leeds had gone in front after just four minutes when they were rewarded for a strong early attack with Ablett's second try of the season.

Rovers had repelled several tackles in front of their posts but after a Sinfield kick hit a defender, Leeds earned a repeat set.

Ablett applied the killer touch after a long pass from Danny McGuire but Sinfield was unable to add the conversion.

Rovers replied after Diskin was penalised for interference close to halfway.

The hosts quickly moved the ball down field and got on the scoresheet as Daniel Fitzhenry found Paul Cooke and the stand-off's well-weighted kick was pounced upon by Briscoe.

Dobson landed the conversion and then added two more points from a penalty.

Hull KR had opportunities to establish a more commanding lead before the break but failed to take advantage of a spell of dominance.

Dobson twice declined further shots at goal after penalties conceded by Diskin and Luke Burgess and then failed to find winger Peter Fox with a long pass.

A break by Kris Welham then stretched the visitors' defence but Keith Senior just got back to deny him.

Dobson finally gave Rovers more reward for their efforts with another penalty in the final minute of the half.

Leeds' first half chances were few and far between but Scott Donald did have a try disallowed by the video referee after he failed to gain control of a Sinfield kick.

Rhinos full-back Smith, man of the match in last season's Grand Final win over St Helens, appeared in discomfort early in the second half and switched positions with winger Hall.

Hall immediately got into the thick of the action and was on hand to score the 48th-minute try that brought Leeds back into the game.

Rovers failed to hold down Senior after the centre gathered Sinfield's high kick and the ball was worked out for the onrushing Hall to touch down.

Sinfield levelled the scores and Leeds moved up a gear, forcing a drop-out soon after.

Leeds were denied just after the hour when Senior was held up over the line by three Rovers players, with Briscoe crucially getting his hand underneath the ball.

The Rhinos then had Paul McShane sin-binned for obstruction and it seemed Rovers had weathered the storm as Jake Webster touched down a Dobson kick after Hall failed to collect.

However, the video referee again intervened and Leeds took advantage of the reprieve to break quickly with Senior and Donald offloading for McGuire.

Fox got back to stop the stand-off but held him down too long and was sin-binned and Sinfield kicked the resulting penalty to put Leeds back ahead.

Leeds then secured the points as they broke quickly and Bailey sent Watkins over in the corner.

Bailey was hit by Briscoe in the move and needed lengthy treatment that led to him being carried off before Sinfield kicked the conversion.

Sinfield then finished the job with a drop goal in the 79th minute.