Leeds Rhinos' bottom-four hoodoo needs a quick fix admits winger Hall

Rhinos are back in Betfred Super League action on Friday, against visitors Leigh Centurions, just four days after a shock 28-20 defeat at bottom club Widnes Vikings.

It will be their third game in eight days following the 40-0 home win over Warrington Wolves last Friday.

Rhinos remain in fourth place on the table, but are now ahead of Wakefield Trinity only on points difference and the result at the Halton Stadium meant that Leeds missed out on an opportunity to consolidate their hold on a top-flight semi-final spot.

There is little time to prepare for Friday’s game against the league’s second-bottom team, but Hall insisted: “That’s what this week is.

“We set off with good intentions at the start of it and we got a great result against Warrington.

“I think we sat back on that, we didn’t take that into the Widnes game and we messed it up, basically.

“It [backing up after four days] is just one of those things we have to do.

“We can’t think about it too much, we just have to get on and do it.

“They are in the same boat as us and they will be coming to Headingley as prepared as we are.”

Leeds have lost to three of the current bottom-four this year and five of the bottom-six.

Hall admitted that was spoken about in the changing rooms after Monday’s game.

“Every time we come up against teams at the bottom of the league we seem to struggle,” he said.

“Warrington were the first, then Huddersfield and now Widnes.

“Leigh are second from bottom and they will be scrapping for points – desperate for points.

“We will have to do it the hard way this week.

“We have done some hard things already this year and we’ve got ourselves into a good position. “We have to build on that.”

Hall denied Monday’s loss was due to Rhinos taking the wrong attitude into the game.

“We talked about it all week,” Hall said.

“It can’t have been attitude because that’s what we talked about going into the game – get your attitude right.

“You don’t have that much time to work on a game plan, so just get your attitude right.”

Boss Brian McDermott was set to name his initial 19-man squad for Friday’s game today.

No major injuries were reported after the Widnes match, though prop Adam Cuthbertson had a thigh heavily strapped and forwards Carl Ablett and Keith Galloway could return after injury, along with captain Danny McGuire.

Hall said: “If we get some players back who haven’t played for a while it’ll be good, they’ll bring some fresh energy.

“I think both teams suffered from that [on Monday].”

Rhinos will be without forward Stevie Ward for Friday’s game.

He has been banned for one match after submitting an early guilty plea to a grade B charge of punching during last week’s win over Warrington.