Could be better say Leeds Rhinos fans, Ash Handley hailed after win v Bradford Bulls and old age grumbles

Our panel felt Leeds missed some opportunities and let the game slip for a spell in the second half, when Bulls scored back-to-back tries. That said though, things are looking good with just 10 games remaining in the regular season, starting at Catalans Dragons on Saturday. Here’s what the jury made of the match at Hill Dickinson Stadium.

KATIE MARCZYNSKI

While it was great to score 50 points against our local rivals, I actually thought we were quite frustrating to watch at Magic Weekend and sank too many tries - not for the first time this season. The second half was similar to when we played Toulouse; we didn’t maintain our intensity and let Bradford back into the game far too easily.

It’s true we don't need to be at our best every week; the focus is to keep winning, but I can't be the only fan with one eye on the Wigan game towards the end of the season. Wigan are the best team by a margin and will most likely be who we face in the Grand Final, should we make it.

We face a trip to the south of France on Saturday, but Stade Gilbert Brutus is not the fortress it once was. I'm sure Catalans Dragons will be smarting from their big loss to Toulouse last week, but I do think we will come away with another two points.

TOM GOLDSWORTHY

In a potential banana skin game for Leeds, Rhinos dominated local rivals Bradford to increase their lead at the top of the table. This means we have now won six games in a row. That’s a feat we hadn’t achieved since 2022, which for those who are superstitious could be a sign of things to come.

For the most part Leeds were clearly the dominant team and the scoreboard reflects this as we put 50 points past Bradford. Our attack has come on leaps and bounds from last season; we are consistently ruthless and don’t let poor teams off the hook, which is something we’ve been guilty of in previous seasons. There was a 10-minute period where our concentration dipped and we let Bradford back into the contest, but we did well to regain control of the game and put another three tries past them.

With Jake Connor and Maika Sivo normally getting the headlines, as they rightfully deserve, I feel Ash Handley has gone somewhat under the radar, but what a season he is having. The decision to move him to centre was a brave one, but Ash has been a revelation there.

He was a constant threat, scoring three tries and unselfishly setting one up for Sivo. He has been ever present for Leeds during our transitional period and hopefully his loyalty and hard work is rewarded with some medals come the end of the season.

Looking ahead to our trip to Perpignan, surely this is the year we finally score a point there. We have been nilled on our past three visits, but with the form we are in, I cannot see this unwanted record continuing and the fans making the journey will finally be rewarded.

DAVID MUHL

It seems churlish to complain about the Magic performance when we scored 50 points, but I wasn’t as impressed as I have been in recent games. I thought we overplayed in the first half and didn’t show patience at all.

It was if we wanted to score on every play. Fair play to Bradford, despite being totally outclassed they never gave up and in the second half gave us something to think about. We must work out how to deal with teams that want to slow us down and mess about at the play-the-ball. For the second game in a row we met a team that wanted to spoil. The referee in both games gave plenty of six-agains, but should really have started handing out cards for constant misdemeanours.

I don’t want to be too negative - there were some good performances. Ash Handley had a superb game scoring a hat-trick and if he hadn’t been super-generous and given a pass to Maika Sivo to get his record of scoring in 10 successive games, he would have had four. Keenan Palasia had a good game, leading the pack with some big hits and putting in a marathon 51-minute stint. We suffered when he went off and Bradford scored most of their points.

There were a couple of injury scares, Ryan Hall leaving the field on 20 minutes with an ankle problem. It looks like he’ll be out for a few weeks, but we have plenty of cover in this position. We won’t get the drives out of defence we get with Ryan, but I’ve no real concerns.

Jake Connor took a knock late on and we’ll see later if there are any long-term problems. Jake had his quietest game for some time. A word for Brodie Croft, he’s quietly scoring tries and going under the radar because of Sivo’s try scoring feats. We’re now four points clear and have a run of very winnable games, so hopefully exciting times ahead.

BECKY OXLEY

This year’s Magic Weekend took place at Hill Dickinson Stadium in Everton, where we faced Bradford at the event for the first time since 2012. I always anticipate the local derby as it brings a unique excitement for me. I reminisce about the early days of Super League when I had a teenage infatuation with Robbie Paul, attending Bradford games while also holding a season ticket at Leeds.

In the first half we executed our game plan effectively. Although our performance was not particularly remarkable or extraordinary, we managed to score a significant number of points, highlighting the progress we’ve made this season under Brad Arthur.

The second half mirrored the first. Ash Handley made some impressive breaks and, in my opinion, was undoubtedly the man of the match. Despite the match being relatively subdued and slower-paced compared to recent games, he still managed to score a hat-trick, showcasing his exceptional talent.

We accomplished what we needed to and having a four-point lead at the top of the table reflects the quality we possess at the Rhinos and our teamwork in securing victories. Maika Sivo also scored a try, marking his entry into the record books for the first time this season with tries in 10 consecutive games. I believe this is just the beginning for him, as he is a formidable try-scorer and I am delighted to see him in a Rhinos jersey.

Looking ahead, we face Catalans, which is always a challenging match. However, given our current form, I believe we are well-positioned to secure the two points needed to maintain our lead in the league.

IAIN SHARP

I wasn’t in Liverpool as I don’t find Magic Weekend very magic any more. I am bored stiff with the lack of imagination and having to face Bradford Bulls yet again at a Magic Weekend. When it comes to local rivalry, less is most definitely more - not, like in some recent years, having to play Bradford five times a season.

As someone who went to the Hill Dickinson for the England versus Australia Test last year, I wasn’t impressed with it as a new build stadium. Almost an hour’s hike from Lime Street station, poor public transport links, little around the stadium - unless you’re into derelict warehouses - and huge dock walls causing logjams of people.

Maybe I am spoiled by the cavernous facilities under Headingley’s South Stand, but I was shocked by having to queue for a toilet and provisions therein. Those - mostly Wigan

fans, who only take 30 minutes to get there - wanting it to replace Wembley as the Challenge Cup final venue need to give their heads a wobble.

I also don’t care about watching other teams, who 99 per cent of the time I can’t stand. In the past when I have attended Magic I’ve arrived around the time of the Leeds game, watched it and left again. Maybe I am getting twisted in my old age, but if the RFL want to reform, or bin off, something, then for me they could do worse than get rid of Magic.