RICHARD Horne was given the send-off his career deserved as Hull FC staged a comeback which had coach Lee Radford thankful for ending the season on a high.
Trailing by 15 points, Hull scored four unanswered tries, including a brace for teenager Jack Logan, as Horne's 16-year career finished on a winning note.
The 24-19 victory takes the Black and Whites to 10th in the Super League table, but the match was all about their departing stars, most notably Horne, who savoured one last hurrah at the KC.
"It was nice for the departing players to go away on a small high, but a high at least," said Radford.
"It was great to get the win for Rich. We tried to get him off a few times in the last five minutes or so as cramp was setting in, but as he has done on a few occasions he refused to come off and he knuckled down for the team.
"The result was important to send everyone home with a smile on their faces and we achieved that."
Radford's desire to end a campaign of frustration on a high note hadn't looked like becoming reality after a dour first half which saw both teams well below par.
Having taken the lead through Tom Lineham, Hull looked consigned to defeat as the Rhinos pulled clear in the second half, only for captain Gareth Ellis to inspire a comeback with the first of four tries for the hosts.
Ellis turned provider for Fetuli Talanoa, before Logan went over for an impressive double.
"In the first half, we were at 45 per cent for our completion rate and they were the same, it wasn't great and hopefully we won't see that again," added Radford.
"Trying to gauge a team's mentality is a tough one and maybe for Leeds they had one eye on the play-offs because they weren't physically how we have seen Leeds in recent years. But we finished strong and got the result and that was important for us."
