Leeds Rhinos: Five talking points from the Cup defeat at Huddersfield

Leeds Rhinos' miserable season took a turn for the worse when they were dumped out of the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup by Huddersfield Giants.

By The Newsroom

Published 8th May 2016, 15:54 BST

Updated 8th May 2016, 16:55 BST

It was Leeds’ 12th defeat in 15 competitive games this year.

Here are five talking points from the game.

1: Last year’s finalists were the first two Super League teams dumped out of this year’s Challenge Cup competition,

2: Danny Brough was magnificent for Giants, who seem to have turned the corner after a poor start to the year. Their improved form heaps more pressure on Leeds.

3: The defeat frees Rhinos to concentrate on Super League. But if they lose at home to Castleford Tigers on Thursday, a place in the Qualifiers will be all but inevitable.

4: Rhinos are frighteningly vulnerable in penalty sets and too many errors with the ball in hand are putting the defence under unnecessary pressure.

5: Jimmy Keinhorst turned in another big effort for Leeds. His form has been one of the positives for Rhinos this year.