Leeds Rhinos and Warrington Wolves meet at Headingley tonight in a game that has the sense of being a huge result for the victors and a massive setback for the losers, with both sides sitting on four wins and two losses.
Both are sides that are in a rebuild, Leeds in the second full season under head coach Rohan Smith as they aim to try and recreate the glory days of their ‘golden generation’, whilst Warrington are in their first season under Sam Burgess and are hoping to bounce back after two poor seasons.
On their day, both sides can look unbeatable but their day doesn’t come around often enough with those high peaks matching equally low lulls, which is why the clash at Headingley is of such intrigue and seems to be a game from which the winner can build solid foundations upon.
Speaking on Sky Sports, both Sam Tomkins and Jamie Jones-Buchanan analysed the game with Tomkins making a bold end-of-season prediction about the two teams.
Leeds Rhinos legend JJB said: “Leeds and Warrington are two teams that, for me, have not quite mastered their identity yet. Very anomalous, and I think that’s going to make tomorrow night’s game exceptional.”
Tomkins agreed, adding: “I think they’re two teams in similar positions, I think we’ve spoken about them before, they’ve both got good squads, and they’re both ready to kick on and go to that next level.
“For Leeds, they need to cement themselves back in one of the top spots. For Warrington, is it finally going to be their year, and neither of those teams have really grasped it yet.
“I think in attack, they’re both a little bit sloppy at the moment. Tomorrow night is going to be huge to see which one of those teams is going to kick on because I don’t think both of them can this year.
Tomkins then concluded with an ominous prediction, stating: “I think one of those teams will excel at some point. I don’t think both will. I don’t think both will make the six.”
Do Leeds Rhinos have a point to prove?
Credit: Imago Images
Leeds Rhinos made the Grand Final in their first season under Rohan Smith with the Australian coach taking them from 11th in Super League when he joined all the way to Old Trafford.
Of course, St Helens won that clash but for Leeds, it was the last taste of playoff rugby league that they’ve had having failed to make the top six in the past two seasons.
This current season has seen a set of tiers emerge in Super League with St Helens and Wigan Warriors seemingly the clear favourites before a set of several clus including Leeds, Warrington, Hull KR, Catalans, Salford and Huddersfield have emerged, with injuries being all that has held Leigh Leopards back.
As such, making the playoffs will be a huge test for both these sides and their current form perhaps reflects that which is something that Tomkins continued to explain.
“I think they’ve both got a point to prove. I think they’ve both got attacking threats that haven’t proven anything yet this year,” the former Catalans and Wigan full-back explained.
“They’ve both shown some nice signs throughout the start of the season but neither of these sides has really cemented themselves as one of the top teams yet.”
Jones-Buchanan added: “Yeah I think our brains are prediction machines and both teams are quite anomalous, you can’t predict what they’re going to do but that makes it as well exciting to compete against each other.
“Every minute there is something to play for. They both score tries from deep in their own half. They don’t necessarily need a lot of possession or territory. They can both come up with the result. I think they’re two exciting teams to watch this weekend.”
As for predictions, JJB backed his beloved Leeds “just”, whilst Tomkins swayed the other way with Warrington “just”.
The game can be viewed live on Sky Sports tonight with details of all rugby league on TV found here.
