Leeds Rhinos' latest pre-season outing saw them dish up a somewhat disappointing performance against Hull KR, going down 24-6. The Rhinos' first-team squad, playing what was effectively their final pre-season match before the youngsters take on Hunslet next week, struggled to get in the groove of the game and were ultimately punished.
Given this was a trial game, the result shouldn't be of too much concern for supporters, but there were some clear performance-related issues that will need to be fixed up in the next ten days before the Super League opener with Warrington Wolves. Here, we take a look at them.
1 Ball retention gave Leeds no hope
If we were judging this game as a competitive fixture, Leeds' inability to keep hold of the ball for sustained periods would have been deemed to be their downfall. Leeds gave possession away four times on the first tackle, made a number of play-the-ball errors and produced a stack of further mistakes that saw them rarely have the ball for sustained periods. They managed to force only one set repeat.
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You can cop some of the errors, particularly given it was a pre-season game. Leeds chanced their hand early sometimes, looking to practice the plays that will be the crux of their attacking identity this season. Ultimately, their execution was very poor though and so close to the new campaign, that has to be somewhat concerning, but by no means a reason to head to the panic station.
Leeds overplayed, they didn't create the space to put on some of the moves they wanted. In simple terms, they didn't earn the right to play the way they intended to, they wanted to do it at every opportunity. The Rhinos might be going away from using the set-up plays so many teams use in the modern game, that's fine. But there needs to be good decision-making if that's the case and there wasn't here. That will need to change.
2 Defensive passiveness
If you were looking for positives, one would be that Leeds' fitness levels didn't wane despite getting through plenty of defending. Of course, there were unlimited subs which helped but from a fitness perspective, Leeds looked to be in a good place.
But at times, their defensive work through the middle was a touch static, and Hull KR punched through them. A prime example of this was Ryan Hall's second try. The Rhinos' line speed wasn't great and KR resorted to playing a simple, direct style that saw them find their fronts, play the ball quickly and make easy metres through the middle. That culminated with Hall getting a quick play the ball and crashing over after KR had just hammered at the door through the middle area of the field. In parts, the same happened in the game with Leigh Leopards.
Of course, the fact they had to do so much defending could play its part in that but by comparison, Hull KR's line speed was much better. Leeds' intensity through that middle area when off the ball will need to be better.
3 Yardage issues
This again can be a by-product of the first issue, but at times Leeds really struggled to make headway down the field. Leeds won the first-half penalty count six to two which was why they had good ball opportunities. But when Rovers didn't feel the wrath of the whistle they suffocated the Rhinos who were unable to get out of their own area. Particularly in the first half, Leeds have a number of sets where they were forced to kick from inside their own 30, with their yardage carries ineffective. That was rarely an issue last year with the likes of Ash Handley and David Fusitu'a starting sets well and getting a roll on. But the middles struggled in that department here as well.
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