Every club has stages within their season that threaten to be pivotal and for Leeds Rhinos, they embark on one of those tonight. Rohan Smith's side entertains St Helens tonight in what is the first in a string of matches that threaten to determine how this season pans out.
The Rhinos, who are currently eighth in Super League, have a sequence of four matches that present a brilliant opportunity to climb the league. Every team they play in the next four rounds currently occupy a place in the bottom half of Super League and beyond that, they play the three bottom teams in the league.
Rohan Smith has challenged the idea of Leeds' performances being inconsistent, but their results certainly have. They boast a 50/50 record in league action which has left them firmly in the mix for a top-four spot as we approach the halfway point of the season, but they also have plenty of work to do to establish themselves in the play-offs too.
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Historically, Leeds aren't scared of leaving it late to make a surge but the opportunity that is presented to them here is one you feel they have to take. The randomness of Leeds' results - defeats to Hull FC and Castleford Tigers but wins over Wigan Warriors and Catalans Dragons - mean you'd never truly right them off. But this is a chance for Leeds to put themselves in a strong position and ease the need for results when they embark on back-to-back away trips against Warrington Wolves and Salford Red Devils.
The challenge for Rohan Smith is team selection. An obvious statement perhaps, but Blake Austin's absence does provide a headache in the sense that he has plenty of options, but the repercussions of each affect other areas of the team. Morgan Gannon played the halfback role last week but with Ash Handley back in contention there's the option of playing him at fullback and Richie Myler in the halves.
Time will tell on that, but this certainly feels like the start of a crucial period in the Rhinos' season.
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