Leeds Rhinos: huge improvement, things to work on, pack potential - latest talking points

Friday’s derby at home to Wakefield Trinity will offer a different challenge and how Rhinos handle that could set the tone for their season. Here’s five talking points.

1: Rhinos’ improvement from the dismal round one showing at Warrington Wolves three weeks ago is impressive and credit to coach Rohan Smith. Saints were clearly feeling the effects of their World Club Challenge exploits, but Rhinos had to be good enough to take advantage and were. There’s a lot still to work on, Leeds looked vulnerable after scoring, conceded a couple of soft tries and made too many mistakes, but it was a big step in the right direction.

2: Trinity now, after three defeats and expected to suffer another this weekend, are in a similar situation to Rhinos before the game at Saints. That is a warning to Leeds, who can’t afford to let last week’s victory go to their heads. It was a big win and should give them new self-belief, but they have to use that in the right way. This season has already shown if any team goes into a game complacent they will get punished.

3: Rohan Smith will have some difficult decisions to make over the next few weeks, with long-term casualties James Bentley, Harry Newman and Mikolaj Oledzki all nearing a return and Sam Lisone and Morgan Gannon also to add to the side which won at Saints. Lisone’s illness provided an opportunity for Sam Walters and he made a big impact off the bench, while James McDonnell, on debut, looked at home in the starting second-row and it would be tough to drop either of them.

4: Formerly a second-rower, Walters - at 6ft 7 and 17st 9lbs - not only has the size to become a dominant middle, but also pace and an offload. In Walters, 22, Justin Sangare, who turned 25 today (Tuesday), Gannon, 18, Jarrod O'Connor, 21, McDonnell, 23, Tom Holroyd, 22, Oledzki, 24 and Cameron Smith, 24, Leeds have a crop of forwards they could build a side around for the next decade.

5: Two games into his Rhinos career, Nene Macdonald looks like a good signing. His pace and ability to break clear from near his own line add considerably to Leeds’ attacking threat.