Leeds Rhinos pulled off the unthinkable in the South of France. Going from 30-6 down to 36-32 winners, it was an unbelivable comeback and to be honest, fully deserved.
The Rhinos under Rohan Smith are an enigma, and week to week, they go to new found heights. Their story is far from over yet.
What a game
First and foremost, what a game of rugby league. It had everything. Late drama, sending offs, sheer quality, momentum swings, the unthinkable, everything. With Sam Tomkins on song, Catalans were good value for their lead, but the way Leeds came back in one of the most insane games in recent memory was nothing short of incredible.
Read more: Rohan Smith praises Leeds Rhinos side after chasing thirty points in incredible comeback
Steve McNamara was very critical of Catalans’ attitude post-match, but once Leeds got the momentum, there was no stopping them. With nothing to lose, they played some brilliant free flowing rugby league and the Dragons were left stunned. In fact, everyone at the Stade Gilbert Brutus was left stunned. It was unbelievable to watch, with Aidan Sezer stepping up to complete a crazy comeback in golden point. An incredible win for Leeds and the sport, which never fails to amaze.
Prior sending off
Before the red card, Matt Prior was sin binned in the very first play of the second half. That proved to be costly, with Catalans scoring three times with the numerical advantage. After coming back on, he was soon dismissed for a high tackle. It wasn’t reckless, but it was perhaps careless, and Leeds were down to twelve.
However, the sending off galvanised them - in fact, it completly re-energised them, and what was to follow arguably wouldn’t have occurred without the dismissal. That sounds a bit mental, but until that moment, Leeds were cagey, clunky, you name it. The siege mentality of being a man down sprung them into life and once they got the momentum, they were unstoppable.
Chasing points
Whether you love them or loathe them, Leeds Rhinos under Rohan Smith are great to watch. The Australian coach has been here almost three months now and he’s completely changed the way this Leeds side play. When they’re conservative, it oesn’t work, but when they play more direct and without a set structure, then all hell breaks loose. It’s brilliant.
After a flat first half, Leeds were faster with Brad Dwyer around the ruck and once they got the momentum they felt like they could pull off anything. It was literally insane, and the belief was there to see after every try. It was coming though, that’s the exciting thing for Leeds fans, you could sense it, everything was coming off, and you can’t say the comeback wasn’t fully deserved. In those conditions too, it was boiling in Perpignan, and with a man sent off, it only adds to their credit. Fair play to all.
Magic Myler
Aidan Sezer had some sublime moments in the French sun, and non more so the games final play, but take a bow Richard Myler, who scored a hat-trick of tries. The veteran halfback sniffed around all game, and eventually he got his reward.
Myler was in support to finish off a Cameron Smith break, before getting on the end of a brilliant Sezer kick. His third score came off James Bentley, who was outstanding and showed all the talented parts of his game and not the niggling and frustrating elements that have seen him suspended for parts of the year.
When he knuckles down, there is a player there, but the star of the show had to be the hat trick hero. Myler may have already had a 350-game career, but there is still plenty of life in the old timer yet. A great performance.
Season alive and kicking
With Hull FC winning in Toulouse, Leeds had to find a victory here to keep the pressure on. They’re still just one point off the Super League play-off places. It’s an unbelievable turnaround to where they were in the early months of the season.
There’s something brewing with this Leeds team, and they’re far from done. The way they smashed Hull at the start of the month was clinical, and although there was a setback for a young team at Toulouse, to beat Wigan so convincingly and now show the character they did to comeback at Catalans is so impressive. They’re on the right path at the moment alright, and it’s full steam ahead.
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