Jon Wilkin picks out “a sad reflection on rugby league”

Last night as they debated the importance of playing entertaining rugby, Jon Wilkin noted that he feels that winning is the be all and end all and ultimately that comes with a less attractive brand of rugby.

This is despite the likes of the Leeds Rhinos golden generation becoming serial winners on the back of an off the cuff style of play.

Speaking on Sky Sports, Wilkin said he’d like to see both but in “a sad reflection on the game” it is, in his opinion, the less entertaining sides who win:

“Ideally you do both, sport is entertainment. So in a perfect world you would like to entertain and win but the brutal reality of sport is sometimes the more dower approach is more effectively, statistically it is more rewarding, less risk more reward.

“That is a sad reflection on the game. For me I like to see teams attack but risk and reward but Leeds are a risky team but they aren’t outscoring teams or blowing them away. They aren’t scoring many points yet.”

This came as he assessed the Rhinos’ style of play focusing on one player in particular in the shape of Blake Austin who he believes epitomises the Rhinos:

“When I watch Leeds, I watch Blake Austin. I am obsessed with Blake Austin.

“Watch him against Catalans last week and tell me if that is recognisable to the player we saw against Hull FC.

“Consistency is six months, eight months, ten months of form and that is the challenge for Leeds.”