Leeds Rhinos well and truly got their season up and running with an excellent victory over Catalans Dragons. It wasn't just the result, but the manner of the performance that made this victory feel like the day the Rhinos' season truly got up and running. Here, we break down that victory and look at what's to come.
Attack, attack, attack
Who could have foreseen this performance after what was dished up against Castleford a week or so prior? This was Leeds, Rohan Smith's version of the Rhinos, at their best with the ball. From the brave cross-field kicks on their own line to the simple but effective flat and fast attack that served them so well last year, Leeds were on it.
There's little doubt that Leeds have the attacking prowess, collectively and individually, to post points. Take out the terrible performances against Warrington and Castleford, Leeds have shown what they're capable of in attack. Even the Hull FC loss came down to not taking chances, rather than an inability to carve them open.
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Six rounds into the season, Leeds are second for tackle busts, third for clean breaks and fourth for offloads across Super League. That's not bad going. The great thing for Leeds is they have threats all over the park. They have strong ball carries on the edges, a dangerous running game in the shape of Blake Austin, and some bulldozers through the middle. Throw in Cameron Smith's craft and guile and there's the making of a very potent team.
The scary thing is that they can still improve as well. There were some evident signs of progress yesterday, with Tom Holroyd's try and Harry Newman's first both the result of Leeds dismantling Catalans' goal-line.
But still, four of Leeds' tries yesterday were mid to long-range efforts and for the large part, the Rhinos have been more of a threat from distance than they have from close in. That's not a bad thing, but imagine what they could do if they sharpen their structured attacks when in good areas. Still, this was a massive positive.
Goal-line defence still an issue
Right, let's get the negative out of the way. Leeds' defence on their own line still isn't where it needs to be. One of the fundamental strengths of last year's run to Old Trafford was their inability to defend wave after wave on their own line. They did it in the play-off wins over both Catalans Dragons but more so, Wigan Warriors.
But it's not up to those standards yet and the way Leeds defend - a more passive line speed that does allow teams to make in-roads into their half, they simply must be able to defend their own area competently. But as it stands, that isn't happening.
They were stripped on either edge by the Dragons in the first half and then Mitchell Pearce - albeit controversially, found a chink through the middle. Leeds won yesterday but still conceded 22 points. You won't win as many games as you'd like doing that every week and that cohesion and connection Smith goes on about needs to be found.
There has to be some mitigation of course. There have been a lot of reshuffles in the opening six rounds, a lot of different combinations. That makes it harder for individuals to get to grips with things. At the same time, Smith has said repeatedly he wants players to be able to play different positions so that's probably not an excuse. If the Rhinos are going to win games weekly, this is an area they have to improve on.
Starters or impacts?
Just one observation from the press room, it seems most of Leeds' middles are better suited playing from the bench. Take Tom Holroyd out of the conversation; he's probably been the team's best performer over the six rounds by the way; but the rest of the props currently available seem to have performed better when being utilised in the impact sub role.
Justin Sangare's two best performances of the season were in the first two games, when he was brought on around the hour mark. When he has played longer minutes, his performances haven't been of the same ilk and some of his defensive efforts have highlighted an area where work is required.
Sam Walters produced his best performance in the same role when he came on to cause carnage against St Helens. He arguably won Leeds the game that night with some pendulum-swinging moments. He started yesterday and had a much quieter afternoon.
And Sam Lisone, who was better yesterday it should be said, comfortably put his best display in when used in a shorter, sharper second-half burst against Wakefield Trinity. His only start, which came in the opening round against Warrington, was a very, very poor performance.
It's perhaps just a coincidence but it's certainly one to keep an eye on. Of course, Mikolaj Oledzki will be back soon and he provides that senior, starting prop that will change the dynamic.
The other person to mention is Zane Tetevano. He was in the back-row against Catalans and, just like last season when he played further wide, he seemed to have a much greater impact on the game. Leeds are blessed with a quality batch of back-rowers but it does seem Tetevano has his better games when playing there.
Don't worry about Jarrod
The biggest compliment you can give the young hooker is that Leeds don't feel to be missing Kruise Leeming.
That's no disrespect to Leeming either, he's a great player. But simply, Leeds' style of play doesn't suit Leeming and Leeming doesn't suit Leeds. It's just one of them, it happens.
Everyone knows of Leeming's running threat but O'Connor has it too, he ran from dummy half eight times yesterday and made 87 metres. Crucially, O'Connor does seem to have a knack for knowing when to run and when to pass. Too often, that synergy, that understanding, didn't seem to be there between Leeming and the two halfbacks.
Leeming hasn't been thrown under the bus by any means but you do wonder if some of Rohan Smith's comments have tried to deliver a subliminal message on the situation. He has called Jarrod O'Connor selfless on a number of occasions and even said yesterday that he plays for the badge on the front rather than the name on the back.
Perhaps this cynical writer is reading too much into the underlying message being sent with such words, but at the same time, Smith hasn't seemed particularly upset to see Leeming depart, either.
The latest House of League is out now. Matthew Shaw is joined by a variety of guests to discuss Kruise Leeming's shock Leeds Rhinos exit, Wakefield Trinity's pitch saga and more. You can listen to the full show below or alternatively subscribe on Spotify, Amazon Music or Apple Music.
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