Leeds Rhinos claimed an impressive 34-20 Magic Weekend win over Castleford Tigers to give their Super League play-off hopes another major boost.
There were a number of impressive performances for Rohan Smith’s team in the Magic Weekend showdown as they largely dominated the second half. Here, Leeds Live assesses a number of talking points following a win which encouraged hopes of a top-six finish.
Young fringe players showing more promising signs
With Blake Austin missing due to a damaged calf muscle, young Corey Johnson was deployed in the halves alongside Aidan Sezer. Johnson impressed and certainly did not look out of place at Super League level, while Jarrod O’Connor again underlined his talent as the Rhinos’ starting hooker.
Leeds were missing captain Kruise Leeming with a foot injury but O’Connor made his mark again and Brad Dywer came off the bench as the interchange number nine. Morgan Gannon, still only 18, also played his part but it was hard to ignore the impact Sam Walters made either.
The towering forward, a strapping second-rower who showed his value as a middle man, caught the eye as a substitute. At 6ft 7in, it is impossible to miss Walters but he has been given a chance by Rohan Smith and seems determined to take it. Good on him.
Love and support for Rob Burrow as strong as ever
Rohan Smith revealed after the game he had done his research into Rob Burrow’s back story at Leeds Rhinos and how he helped inspire the club to eight Grand Final victories during his playing days.
“I have listened to his book on audio,” said Smith, with Leeds and Castleford having worn a one-off jersey inspired by Burrow's battle with motor neurone disease. The Rhinos’ kit was designed by his young daughters Macy and Maya and the girls led the Leeds team out and the family were cheered by both sets of fans when they appeared on the big screen during the game.
The Burrows visited Rhinos hotel before the match and the girls spoke to the players about how they came up with the design for the shirt. Smith said: “I think it meant a lot to the whole club and we spoke about it a couple of times during the week, without getting too emotional.”
Burrow was diagnosed in December 2019 and the support from Leeds – and the wider rugby league community – remains as strong as ever.
Play-offs within sight for the Rhinos
There can be no denying that Leeds made a disastrous start to the season. Richard Agar threw in the towel after six games and five defeats but Jamie Jones-Buchanan steadied the ship and now Rohan Smith is patiently writing a new chapter.
Leeds may have a few more wobbles as the season run-in approaches but, on the evidence of last night’s win, they are capable of squeezing into the top six. It could be very tight and may well go to the wire, yet the Rhinos have plenty of quality players in pretty much every position.
Smith has won four and lost three of his seven games in charge so far. It has been fun at times watching Leeds play under the laconic Aussie and as a team they certainly seem more united.
With just a bit more consistency in their remaining games, the eight-time Super League champions can make the end-of-season play-off lottery. It is resurgent Toulouse Olympique away up next - a big test in what should be baking conditions.
Aidan Sezer showed his class
It has not been the best start to Aidan Sezer’s Leeds career with a change of head coach and three months on the sidelines due to a groin injury. Yet the 31-year-old former Canberra Raiders and Huddersfield Giants half-back is blessed with natural talent and proved his class against Castleford.
If Leeds can get him firing for the rest of the season, then it will give their play-off hopes a major boost. Sezer and Blake Austin are contracted at Headingley for the 2023 campaign and Leeds need their partnership to work. Both men are proven matchwinners on their day and, as Sezer showed against the Tigers, he remains a class act.
Austin watched the game from the stands due to injury but if Leeds can get them working successfully in tandem on a consistent basis, then Super League defences beware.
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