Eleven rounds into the season, we've decided to take a look at who is leading the way for the Rhinos in various performance metrics with roughly a third of the campaign gone. Without further ado, here are your stat leaders.
Tries – Ash Handley (5)
The England World Cup hopeful has played in every game so far this season for Leeds, notching a handful of tries. Handley scored in the opening-round defeat to Warrington Wolves, hit a hat-trick in the win at Wakefield Trinity in round four and was on target again in the defeat at Salford Red Devils on March 18. But he has failed to cross the whitewash in the past five games, the last two of which Leeds have won, against Toulouse Olympique and Hull Kingston Rovers. Forwards Rhyse Martin, Matt Prior and Morgan Gannon have all weighed in with three tries apiece but touchdowns in the backline have been scarce this year.
Assists – Kruise Leeming (5)
The former Huddersfield Giants hooker was appointed Leeds captain at the start of the year but, like many at Headingley so far this term, he has shown only glimpses of his best form. Leeming has created more tries than any of his team-mates with five assists. Yet he lags some way behind the current leader Jake Connor, the Hull FC man having racked up 16 assists, and Leeds have scored less tries than any team in Super League with just 27. Quite simply, they need far greater creativity from their halves and hooker.
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Tackles – Cameron Smith (386)
This is one area where Leeds – and specifically Smith – show up well in as the loose forward is the currently the sixth-highest in Super League for tackles made. Smith’s impressive figure is testament to his assiduous work-rate and willingness to put his head in where it hurts. Smith’s close friend, England prop Mikolaj Oledzki, is not far behind on 353 tackles made. Hull FC hooker Danny Houghton, unsurprisingly, tops the charts with 425.
Missed tackles – Kruise Leeming (32)
In a World Cup year, England hopeful Leeming needs to find his best form if he is to secure a place in Shaun Wane’s squad in the autumn. But the 26-year-old has missed 32 tackles so far this year – just two less than chart-leaders Andy Ackers, Eloi Pelissier and Josh Reynolds, who are all on 34. Leeming’s fellow hooker Brad Dwyer is Leeds’ second-worst culprit for missed tackles with 26.
Tackle busts – Ash Handley (31)
While Handley may not have scored the number of tries he would have liked, his commitment to the cause has never been in doubt. The Headingley academy graduate has ran harder than most in blue and amber this season and proved very difficult for opposition defences to handle at times. In a category dominated by outside-backs, Toulouse Olympique winger Matty Russell is top of the charts with 50 with Wigan Warriors try-scoring sensation Jai Field just behind him on 48.
Carries – Ash Handley (184)
Handley has played every Super League game so far this season for Leeds, which partly explains why his number of carries is so high. But it is also indicative of his desire to take the ball and drive at the heart of opposition defences, utilising his speed and strength. Innes Senior currently tops the charts with 193 and Handley is behind him in second with ex-Leeds man Ryan Hall in third with 183.
Metres made – Ash Handley (1,499)
Interestingly, only Wigan Warriors full-back Jai Field (1,732) has made more metres than Handley so far this season. Handley and St Helens winger Tommy Makinson are currently joint level on 1,499 metres made. Handley’s metres made are, of course, in line with his number of carries but again confirms his value to the Rhinos.
Clean breaks – Ash Handley (7)
The winger has seven clean breaks to his name and is ninth overall in Super League so far this season. Steve Prescott Man of Steel favourite Jai Field is top with 19 and England star Tommy Makinson is in second place with 14.
Penalties conceded – James Bentley (8)
It has not been a good debut season at Headingley for boyhood Leeds fan Bentley so far. He was sent off on his debut against Warrington Wolves in front of a historic bumper television audience on Channel 4. He was also shown a costly yellow card in another televised defeat at Castleford Tigers on Easter Monday. Bentley has given away eight penalties which is three behind Salford's King Vuniyayawa, who currently tops the chart. His discipline must improve under new head coach Rohan Smith.
