Leeds Rhinos have picked up the happy knack of winning ugly - YEP Jury

ADAM ANDERSON

It wasn’t a pretty game versus Salford Red Devils but it was a win nevertheless.

What was pleasing about it was keeping Salford to zero in the second half.

Cameron Smith has become a different player this season; he’s been able to play his own game and, hopefully, the club gives him a new contract very soon.

Harry Newman is going from strength to strength with every game that comes around.

This week, against Warrington, will be a big test for us.

They are one of the teams predicted to be up there this season but, if they are ‘off’, they are there for the taking, as Toronto highlighted partway through their game last weekend.

Joe Greenwood was announced as a loan signing this week which I feel is a very astute move on the part of the Headingley club.

He will bring a lot more to the back-row and gets through a lot of work.

He’s a player I understand we chased on his return from a spell in Australia but missed out to Wigan.

CHRISTINE KIDD

Last week’s optimism soon faded on a wet and windy Saturday at the AJ Bell Stadium.

The Rhinos’ first-half performance reverted to how they played against Hull FC. A Luke Gale try just before half-time and the fact that Salford scored two unconverted tries made the score look respectable.

Whatever Richard Agar said at half-time obviously worked as it looked like a different Rhinos team on the field in the second half. This was helped by the appearance of Adam Cuthbertson and Richie Myler. We seemed to have more go-forward and better organisation and the Rhinos started putting points on the scoreboard.

Friday sees Warrington Wolves visit Emerald Headingley. The Wolves flattered to deceive in their first game and it looked as though it could be ‘their year’. Since then they have gone backwards with their performances. Toronto nearly produced a big shock last Sunday, but the Wolves just managed to hang on to their lead.

If the Rhinos can play for the full 80 minutes then they should come away with the two points.

GRAHAM POULTER

Leeds made very hard work of winning the game at Salford, especially after a poor first half.

Leeds didn’t help themselves by giving away penalty after penalty and why oh why do some of the players persist in backchatting at the referee?

All it does is give the opposition vital field position and means Leeds have to use more energy by then defending their try line.

Please Leeds can you have more about you and just get on with the game? Don’t you realise that when you show the opposition that you’re rattled it just gives them the advantage?

Good teams do not show the opposition that they are rattled. Stay together as a unit; you all have to be singing from the same hymn sheet. Come on coach Agar, you need to be stronger in getting your message over to the players.

If they aren’t listening, then they need binning.

The game against Warrington on Friday will be a tough one.

I feel that Warrington will have too much firepower for Leeds to cope with so my prediction is Leeds to lose fairly heavily!

DIANNE HALL

It wasn’t attractive rugby, but an ugly win is better than a pretty loss! Initially, I thought Salford managed the difficult conditions better than we did, although neither team used the blustery weather to their advantage. Despite the strong winds there were few high kicks that would have resulted in an uncertain outcome so, instead, we tried to force mistakes with ineffective grubber kicks.

Matt Prior appears to be settling in well and, despite giving away a few penalties on the last tackle, he puts in big minutes so that outweighs the negatives.

Big pats on the back to Cameron Smith and Harry Newman also Adam Cuthbertson and Richie Myler who gave us fresh impetus when they came on in the second half. To get 22 unanswered points and nil any Super League side for 40 minutes is pleasing. With the penalties being equal, if baffling, and both teams on warnings, I thought that Ian Watson’s post-match comments were uncalled for.

Warrington up next, who struggled a bit to overcome Toronto.

It will be interesting to see which Wire team turns up. Spoils to Leeds.

MATT FOWLER

Winning ugly and grinding out wins is not something Leeds have been able to do for several years but, at Salford on Saturday, Rhinos ground out a win after playing some pretty ordinary stuff in the first half.

After the break, Rhinos found some go-forward and we now have a half-back that can play off the back of it.

Once again Luke Gale led from the front along with Richie Myler who is still having an effect on the team despite limited minutes.

I think he, Myler, will be a good asset to have off the bench this season in much the same way that Andrew Dunemann was back in 2003-5.

Next up is Warrington Wolves, who have been playing some pretty inconsistent rugby ever since they lifted the Challenge Cup.

On their day they can blow any team away so Friday will be a real test for this new Rhinos team.

The main worry this year, like last year, is our discipline.

Keep our discipline and play wide to Konrad Hurrell and Harry Newman and we have a good chance of taking the two points.

IAN SHARP

With conditions more relating to winter rugby than summer rugby, I did wonder what kind of game it would be at Salford.

Error strewn, dropped ball, kicks going all over the place, but it was quite a good game after half-time! We kind of looked out of sorts, a far cry to the team that had demolished Hull KR only the previous week.

The defence looked weak and Luke Gale looked lost.

I don’t know what Richard Agar said at half-time but, by god, it was the right thing, we looked different class.

Gale took control and led his team around the pitch. Bringing Richie Myler on was a turning point, and I do think he should start over Robert Lui, to be honest. Matt Prior stood up yet again, Cam Smith and Harry Newman had good shifts too.

I think we miss Rhyse Martin in the second-row; he brings us aggression and has good hands to pass the ball on to open up space on the flanks.

It’s a big test this week with Wire in town. A big pack and it’ll be interesting to see what tactics we come up with. Let’s hope we get a few bodies back and put up a fight for 80 minutes.