St Helens claimed a hard-fought comeback win at Headingley on Friday night, coming back from 8-0 down to score 18 unanswered points to prevail 18-8 against a spirited Leeds Rhinos side.
Despite that spirit, it was a disappointing defeat for Leeds who in the first half looked in control of the game, but their failure to post more points while they were the dominant team came back to bite them.
It leaves the Rhinos with three wins from five games, with their two defeats this campaign coming against Hull KR and Saints, having looked impressive in their three wins against Salford Red Devils, Catalans Dragons and Leigh Leopards.
Leeds Rhinos fans unhappy with defeat to St Helens
Though Leeds perhaps produced their best first half of rugby league in some time against St Helens, the final scoreline unsurprisingly left many Rhinos fans disappointed at what might have been.
While some focused on the positives, it was the refereeing of Jack Smith in the second half that left supporters aggrieved as some tight calls seemingly went against the home side.
While St Helens appeared to be gaining the initiative in the game, several pointed out on social media platform X that a game-changing moment happened in the lead-up to Saints’ second try.
Referee Smith adjudged a lost ball from Leeds winger Luis Roberts, though replays appeared to show Moses Mbye steal the ball. The visitors scored from the resulting set to go in front 12-8.
Rhinos full-back Lachie Miller then kicked out on the full from the kick-off, allowing Saints to score again through, ironically, Mbye, a four-pointer that put the game beyond Leeds at 18-8.
Following the game, supporters of the Rhinos were not shy in sharing how they felt hard done by this and a number of decisions in the game.
Leeds not perfect at all but two poor reffing decisions esp. where Mbye raked it out I feel spoilt what could’ve been closer
— Chinaonthehill (@chinaonthehill) March 15, 2024
Please tell me I’m not the only one that noticed the 6 again hooter go after Croft put a kick in which the led to them scoring from a ripped ball????😡😡😡
— Niall Murphy (@niall1992murphy) March 15, 2024
Leeds were fantastic .. beaten by a better side in second half .. helped by a crap decision saying knock on when-saints knocked it out of his hand ffs ! .. we can do this .. forget this game and move on .. saints are an aging side !
— Sue O'Neill (@sueponeill) March 15, 2024
Their first try was a fwd pass and 2nd from a ball steal, we did nothing wrong except ran out of steam.
— JP Tully (@jp_tully) March 15, 2024
Though the ball steal by Mbye was a game-changing moment, other Leeds fans pointed to several other decisions made by referee Smith during the game.
Among the complaints included St Helens spoiling tactics around the ruck, something Leeds boss Rohan Smith briefly mentioned in his post-match interview to Sky Sports.
Poor 2nd half from Leeds saints deserved to win but there spilling tactics at the play the ball were way too obvious going unpunished.
— Paul mortimer (@paulmortimer43) March 15, 2024
Good first half ruined by dodgy try just before half time. Looked both offside and then forward pass.
Turned game.
Needed them Nil at HT— McCarlisle (@McCarlisle1) March 15, 2024
Despite the complaints from a few though, the general consensus among many was that Leeds lacked the consistency to battle with Saints for the full 80 minutes after dominating the first half.
The Rhinos failure to back up their showing in the first 40 did not go unrecognised, with their ‘off the cuff’ and expansive style coming under fire from some, who feel it is not sustainable unless there is more team cohesion and resilience.
Second half , no set plays , just hoping for off the cuff individual plays to open them up. Saints got wise second half and didn’t kick on the fifth tackle, just took the tackle in a good field position to stop Miller returning
— Jez H (@JezH25215) March 15, 2024
Appears to me there’s a lot of great individual performances and we are lacking cohesion as a team. I can and will moan about the Refs decision making but it does not change my first statement!! ☹️🟡🔵🦏
— Jamie (@BedfordRhino) March 15, 2024
All that pressure in the first half & we couldn't capitalise on it. They get a fortuitous 2nd & got their 3rd straight away & were clinical, that's something we aren't unfortunately.
— Alan Thompson (@thombo1987) March 15, 2024
Really poor Leeds performance. Thinking throwing the ball around will win games without putting in the graft is embarrassing. I like Rohan but with the new squad this has to improve. 8 nil up and losing is not good. 1999 and 2004 we had steel. This side doesn't have it.
— Dave Varley (@DaveVarley8) March 15, 2024
Leeds Rhinos taught a lesson by gritty St Helens
Despite the loss, Leeds showed signs that they can mix it with the big hitters of Super League. In the first 30 minutes, they gave St Helens the runaround. No team has done that to Saints and out-infused them to that level for some time – something Paul Wellens admitted after the game.
The challenge for the Rhinos and their head coach Rohan Smith is to be more clinical when they have those moments. Their all-action, expansive style is one that Sky Sports pundit Sam Tomkins believes ‘doesn’t win comps’, but had Leeds been clinical in the first half on Friday night they would have been out of sight.
If the Rhinos are to be successful this season under Smith playing that style, they not only need to play for the full 80 minutes and be more clinical with their field position and chances, but they also have to dig in defence, and not push the self-destruct button.
Once Saints got the lead in the second half last night, Leeds never got back in the game. They gave away a soft try to Mbye that put the game to bed as the final quarter approached, something they can’t afford to do in these matches.
When St Helens’ backs were against the wall in the first 30 minutes, they were outplayed and out-infused, but they didn’t let the game get away from them, they kept the scoreboard close and didn’t let Leeds get out of sight.
Their ability to do that and dig in when the going got tough allowed them to reset at half-time, roll their sleeves up and have a go. When the shoe was on the other foot the Rhinos couldn’t handle the pressure.
That is the difference between a champion team and one that is hoping to become contenders. Leeds should look at what Saints did last night and try to copy that blueprint, not in terms of style, but more in terms of their ability to bend rather than break when the going got tough.
