Rhinos' third defeat of the year – their first for more than two months – means their lead over second placed St Helens is down to four points with the sides due to meet at Headingley Carnegie on Friday night.

Leeds looked lethargic, while Quins played at a high tempo, smothering the visitors' attack with some in-your-face defence and offloading superbly to keep the ball alive.

They were the better team in the first-half, leading 14-12 at the break, and did enough in the second as Leeds made far too many errors, though Rhinos scored five tries to four.

A controversial decision by video referee Ben Thaler separated the teams at half-time and proved the game's pivotal moment.

Trailing 12-6 on 25 minutes, Leeds thought they'd scored when Danny McGuire broke up the middle, from 10 metres inside his own half and sent the supporting Rob Burrow between the posts.

Thaler disallowed the touchdown for an alleged obstruction by Kevin Sinfield and to rub salt into Rhinos' wound, Henry Paul landed the subsequent penalty.

Rhinos welcomed back Jamie Peacock – who will tomorrow be confirmed as England captain for this month's Test against France, but prop Luke Burgess, who had a loan spell at Quins, was a last-minute withdrawal due to a shoulder injury.

Peacock, starting in the second-row, made his presence felt immediately, crashing past Danny Orr and over the top of Chris Melling for the opening try, from a Matt Diskin pass, after just three minutes.

Kevin Sinfield converted, but Rhinos' lead lasted just four minutes as Quins ran the powerplay and Chad Randall, Scott Hill and David Howell linked to send Will Sharp – one of seven Londoners in the home team – over at the corner, Henry Paul adding the extras.

Sharp almost doubled up moments later, but he was hammered into touch by Carl Ablett 20 metres out. Scott Donald had a try ruled out for a forward pass from Brent Webb on 15 minutes and two later Quins were ahead when Hill plunged over from Randall's pass, Paul converting.
Escape

Burrow's disallowed try came against the run of play and Leeds had an escape when Webb managed to knock the ball dead ahead of an on-rushing Howell as Quins turned the screw.

But a home error let Leeds back into the game six minutes before the break. Melling spilled Jordan Tansey's kick, under no pressure and after Quins had been caught offside following the scrum, Burrow's long pass was finished wide out by Donald, with Sinfield adding a splendid touchline goal to cut the home side's interval lead to 14-12.