Leeds Rhinos 12-0 Hull KR: Highlights, player ratings and talking points

Leeds appear to have well and truly turned the corner. Despite being down to 19 available players and without new signing Zak Hardaker and new boss Rohan Smith, a Leeds side with three teenagers in it and players out of position all over the field not only beat the league’s form team Hull KR but also nilled them to move to ninth in the league.

Highlights:

Austin grubber catches Hull KR out
It seems in recent weeks that the grubber kick has been folded back into the Leeds attacking arsenal. This is a notable change having been an option Leeds rarely used in recent times preferring to take the tackle on the last instead. However, we saw that particular skill on show for the first try with Blake Austin’s laser like grubber catching Ethan Ryan out allowing Matt Prior to score the opener.

Two for two
If that wasn’t proof of Leeds’ return to the grubber kick, then the next try was. An exquisite use of the skill from skipper Kruise Leeming this time at a crucial point in the match 10 minutes into the second half with Leeds still only leading by six. Having started at seven, Leeming moved back to nine and leapt out of dummyhalf after a Blake Austin half break. He stabbed the ball in behind for Morgan Gannon to score. A lovely grubber and something Leeds have clearly been working on under interim boss Jamie Jones-Buchanan.

Try saving tackles the order of the day
I always try to credit good defence where I can and there was plenty of brilliant scramble defence tonight. Two particular tackles from the first half stood out both involving Ben Crooks. The Hull KR centre stood up to deny an on rushing Ash Handley when Leeds were building momentum at 6-0. Later Crooks carved open the Leeds defence as he often did in the first half. However, stand-in fullback Jack Broadbent stepped up to deny him. A quick play-the-ball followed and Hull KR seemed destined for a try down the left through Ryan Hall but more scramble from Leeds kept them 6-0 ahead at the break. Another came with nine minutes left. Lovely play from Leeds down their right set Rhyse Martin down the wing. He kept the ball alive and it was soon shifted left all in the same play. Ash Handley looked to have scored from a Max Simpson pass only for the linesman to rule Hull KR had gotten one of his legs into touch. That kept the score at 12-0 and the Robins in the contest. If that wasn’t enough for you, Handley was again denied after a Brad Dwyer break due to a disappearing effort from Ethan Ryan.

Talking Points:

1. Robins ill-discipline undoes them
Going into tonight’s game, Hull KR were the league’s form team and at times looked as such especially in attack down the Leeds’ left. However, too many times after building pressure they alleviated it with penalties for offside and even one for dissent in the first half. Equally, too many times they came up with forward passes and knock-ons to squander good attacking opportunities and possession.

2. Leeds kicking game much improved
The Rhinos exhibited two important things any team needs to accomplish if they are to win a game tonight: good determined go forward helped by the dynamic and dangerous running of Brad Dwyer and a smart kicking game. It was perhaps the best kicking game we’ve seen from Leeds this season with two tries from smart grubbers and plenty of goal line dropouts forced for good measure. If Leeds can continue to nail these elements of the game they’ll finish the year strong.

3. Injury worries for Hull KR ahead of semi-final clash
Next week presents a huge chance for Hull KR to book a place in the Challenge Cup Final as they face Huddersfield Giants in an intriguing battle at Elland Road. However, they may have to do it with wholesale changes to their backline after Lachlan Coote was forced off with a HIA following a smart kick and seismic hit from Kruise Leeming which sadly saw both players forced off with head injuries. We hope both are okay. Meanwhile, Sam Wood also limped off the field with a leg injury. The yellow card to Albert Vete will have been unwanted as well.

4. Revamped Rhinos
The last four games have been very encouraging from the Rhinos who have gradually gotten better. At the heart of their improvement has been character and a willingness to fight for the shirt no doubt instilled by interim boss and Leeds legend Jamie Jones-Buchanan. They defended exceptionally tonight to keep a free scoring Hull KR side to nil – something unthinkable earlier this season. The teenagers in the side stood up especially Morgan Gannon who grabbed a lovely try. Meanwhile the likes of Rhyse Martin – who played out of position tonight at centre – led the way. New boss Rohan Smith certainly has something to work with and the fans are certainly on board with the Southstand fostering a special atmosphere to boost Leeds to victory against the league’s form team tonight.

Player Ratings:

Leeds Rhinos
23 Jack Broadbent – 7
29 Liam Tindall – 7
12 Rhyse Martin – 9
28 Max Simpson – 7
5 Ash Handley – 8
6 Blake Austin – 8
9 Kruise Leeming – 8
8 Mikolaj Oledzki – 7
14 Brad Dwyer – 9
10 Matt Prior – 8
21 Morgan Gannon – 8
25 James Donaldson – 7
17 Cameron Smith – 9
Substitutes
19 Bodene Thompson – 8
24 Jarrod O’Connor – 7
27 Muizz Mustapha – 6
32 Jack Sinfield – 7

Hull KR
1 Lachlan Coote – 8
23 Ethan Ryan – 7
2 Ben Crooks – 8
24 Sam Wood – 7
5 Ryan Hall – 8
21 Rowan Milnes – 7
7 Jordan Abdull – 7
8 Albert Vete – 7
9 Matt Parcell – 8
10 George King – 7
11 Dean Hadley – 8
13 Matty Storton – 7
17 Elliot Minchella – 7
Substitutes
16 Korbin Sims – 6
18 Jimmy Keinhorst – 6
22 Will Maher – 6
25 Greg Richards – 6