Rhinos shook off their poor engage Super League form to push the Aussie champions all the way and the game – which Storm won 18-10 – was only settled by a converted try in the final minute.

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Tonight's visit of Harlequins provides a first opportunity for Rhinos to prove that last weekend's display wasn't a flash in the pan – and Kirke warned they can't afford anything other than a good performance and a win.

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"Obviously we are all pretty disappointed," he said. "But, at the same time, we've not had the best start to the league season and we're pretty aware of the fact we need to start winning.

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"We beat Salford last time, but we didn't play massively well. We played a lot better against Melbourne and hopefully we can kick on and get a few wins under our belt.

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"We had a little review on Monday. We didn't watch much of it – because it would probably have been too depressing – but there were a lot of positives, like the way we defended.

"There was a lot of improvement from the previous few games."

Kirke, who was one of the Leeds players to suffer a knock against Storm, said Rhinos have the right culture to bounce back.

"Kevin (Sinfield) has touched on it in the past," he said.

"Most people could go elsewhere for possibly more money, but there are not many places that have the same culture we have.

"That is a big strength and you can tell that from the way we play. We might not always be playing our best rugby, but we always put our best effort in on the pitch.

"Even people like Greg (Eastwood) who haven't been here that long have bought into it. You see him chasing back to bring Billy Slater down and that shows the culture we've got here.

"A lot of clubs' players in that position would have given up."

Rhinos are also now able to focus on the league, after having the world title match hanging over them for the first four rounds of the campaign.

Said Kirke: "We try to take it one game at a time, but it's hard not to have a big game like that at the back of your mind.

"We're not in the Challenge Cup yet, so we've just got the league to focus on. We can concentrate all our efforts into that."

Of the short turnaround from Sunday, Kirke said: "It's pretty tough, but you've got to do it.

"Obviously Kev's out, but the players who are fit are feeling pretty good. It (fatigue from Sunday) may be a bit of a factor, because it was a bit of a drain on the emotions as well.

"But the fact is we've got to win it. I think we will bounce back and it will kick us on a bit."

Not that Kirke is taking Quins, who won at Headingley Carnegie last year, lightly.

"With Brian McDermott coaching them, they're going to be tough," he said.

"He prides himself on defence and he'll want to put in a good performance against us.

"They have some dangerous players – Danny Orr and people like that – and we'll have to be on our game to beat them."

Meanwhile, Kirke has backed young three-quarter Kallum Watkins to bounce back following his near-misses against Melbourne.

The 18-year-old got over the line twice – including with six minutes to go when Leeds trailed by only two points – but couldn't get the ball down.

Kirke said: "He was pretty cut up after the game. I know him very well because he used to live with me.

"No-one even thought about blaming him, apart from people outside the club. People drop balls and miss tackles throughout the game. He happens to be in a position where it gets noticed more.

"None of the finishes he had were easy and there are a lot more experienced players who wouldn't have scored either.

"You can't put that pressure on such a young lad, that would be unfair. He is going to be a great player.

"Remember the Huddersfield game last year, when he scored an interception try at the end. He is going to do great things in the game. These things happen."

RHINOS reserves begin their league campaign against Harlequins at Stanningley today (4pm).