Leeds Rhinos suffered an eight-try hammering at old adversaries St Helens on Thursday night, underlining the gulf in class between the sides. The 42-12 defeat was a blow to their play-off hopes and the performance was characterised by ill discipline.
Here, Rugby League Live assesses the key issues surrounding Rohan Smith’s side following their thumping defeat.
Leeds are no longer a match for Saints
A decade or so ago, St Helens versus Leeds was an occasion to increase the heartbeat, a headline fixture in the Super League season. The Roses rivals battled it out for supremacy at Old Trafford four times in five years between 2007 and 2011.
Leeds won them all, their Golden Generation establishing a dynasty which reverberated far and wide, earning them famous supporters such as Wayne Rooney. Sadly for the Rhinos, they have struggled to cope with the transition from that glorious era.
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Last night’s defeat was their 11th straight loss to Saints, who are now Super League’s dominant force and aiming for an unprecedented fourth successive Super League title. Rohan Smith’s men were competitive for parts of their latest setback against St Helens and may point to a number of calls which went against them.
But the fact is they were beaten comprehensively and have now not tasted victory over Saints since March 2018. The gulf in class shows no sign of closing.
Shocking discipline continues to undermine Leeds
James Bentley’s disciplinary record is becoming a serious issue now. There is no mistaking his ferocious desire to win, but the second-rower has spent far too much on the sidelines through suspension this season.
He was sent off on his debut against Warrington, incurred a costly sinbinning in a defeat at Castleford on Easter Monday before landing another yellow card against Wakefield last month.
Those indiscretions saw him banned for a total of nine games, with another suspension now looming after being yellow carded for a professional foul against Saints last night. Bentley also missed six tackles and conceded three penalties while also taking just five carries and making only 13 metres.
To add to Rohan Smith’s disciplinary problems, Bodene Thompson was sinbinned for tripping and Zane Tetevano was sent off for cleaning out former team-mate Konrad Hurrell.
Half-back conundrum a concern for 2023
Blake Austin and Aidan Sezer, particularly the former, have shown signs of their undeniable talent at times this season. Yet there remains the nagging suspicion that it is not a half-back partnership to take Leeds forward, with both men now in their thirties and, in Sezer’s case, injury prone.
The former Huddersfield playmaker returned from a long-term injury against St Helens, and fared okay behind a beaten pack, but Austin endured the biggest mixed bag. Of his 17 tackles, the ex-Warrington man missed six of them, conceded three penalties and kicked out on the full three times.
Significantly, Austin and Sezer are both contracted to Leeds for the 2023 campaign. Does Rohan Smith persist with the Aussie duo beyond this season in the hope that they will finally click, or does he bite the bullet and bring in a new face? It is a huge call.
Harry Newman is a class act
Traumatic does not do justice to the Leeds centre’s battle with injuries in recent times, but the sight of him galloping through the St Helens defence to score a delightful individual try was heartening. Not only for Rohan Smith and Leeds supporters, but Shane Wane too.
England are not blessed with a plethora of world-class centres – Mark Percival has been troubled by injuries and Oliver Gildart has not set the NRL alight at Wests Tigers. But Newman, a natural athlete, could be the perfect fit for Wane in a World Cup year.
Crucial for the Yorkshireman will be his ability to stay fit and show the kind of form he produced against St Helens on a regular basis. Certainly his talent is not up for debate.
Leeds Rhinos Women more competitive
Much has been made of Leeds men’s team inability to compete with St Helens, having failed to beat them in their last 11 meetings. But the curtain-raiser to the men’s clash was a thrilling Women’s Super League encounter which the Rhinos edged 20-18 thanks to Fran Goldthorp’s dramatic late try.
St Helens Women won every trophy on offer last season, clinching the treble with a 28-0 win in the Grand Final over Leeds at Headingley. Yet Lois Forsell’s Rhinos beat the champions on their own turf in front of the live Sky Sports cameras and will take much confidence from a momentous win into the remainder of their campaign.
In players such Goldthorp, Caitlin Beevers and Georgia Roche, Leeds are a force to be reckoned with.
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