Jon Wells makes huge claim about Leeds Rhinos players not listening to Rohan Smith

Despite a brilliant win over Catalans Dragons last week, tonight Leeds Rhinos produced what Jon Wilkin has described as a “flat” performance as they lost to Hull KR in the rain with Jordan Abdull kicking the Rhinos to death.

But how did Leeds boss Rohan Smith see it?

He explained what went wrong for his side on Sky Sports:

“They kicked well in the first half in awfully difficult conditions. It was one of those days when you needed some bounces to go your way and they didn’t.

“It wasn’t through lack of effort, we defended our line exceptionally well except for some kicks.”

Asked about what the most disappointing element of the defeat was, Smith referenced Hull KR’s third try straight after halftime:

“The kick-off reception after halftime.”

This is something Sky Sports pundits Jon Wilkin and Jon Wells picked up on.

Wilkin said: “It is a lack of understanding of the conditions. They saw the same thing in the first half but then to not react and not catch the kick off and then not to defend it.”

Meanwhile, Wells suggested that Smith’s players aren’t taking on board what he is saying with the moment coming straight after halftime and prompting what appeared to be an argument between Blake Austin and Harry Newman.

“I can understand why Rohan Smith sees that as concerning because it looks as if they are not taking on board what he is saying to them.”