Whether people at Headingley want to admit it or not, there are some pretty serious causes for concern at Leeds Rhinos right now.
The bottom line is that they are one win from five games. Context is always key but in this instance, the context makes things worse. Unlike last year, when Leeds were decimated by injuries and subsequently started in poor fashion, the Rhinos' issues have been no worse than many of their Super League rivals or indeed the teams they've fallen short against.
The simple fact is that Leeds have not played well. Some games their defence has been soft, others their attack has misfired. For large parts their spine just has not played well and on occasion their pack has been rolled. The loss of Richie Myler is one source of mitigation but otherwise, Leeds cannot hide away from the fact their start to the season has been unacceptable.
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The challenge now, and for any club who suffers a shaky start, is to not let the season spiral out of control. The horrid performance last week against Hull FC needs to be rock bottom, not just a fresh wound to nurse.
There's little doubting that panic is beginning to creep in on the terraces. That anxiety can not seep into the squad. This is a test of the Rhinos mental resolve more than it is their actual ability, which, on paper at least, is undoubted.
First and foremost, Leeds have to focus on playing better. They have to avoid paying attention to the result and focus on playing to a level that will give them a chance of winning a game. The difficulty is getting into that mindset. The longer the results go against a side, the more focus shifts to stopping the rot. That's when desperation creeps in and issues follow from there.
Leeds have plenty of time to turn their season around, let's not forget that they've played three of last year's top four so far, and are only five games in.
But if the performances don't improve, neither will the results.
