Leeds Rhinos Jury: Too many Leeds players are '˜missing the point' at the moment

Our YEP Jury look back at Leeds United's narrow defeat at Hull FC and ahead to Sunday's clash at Hull KR.
Richie Myler in action against Hull FC.Richie Myler in action against Hull FC.
Richie Myler in action against Hull FC.

DIANNE HALL

In my Jury piece last week, I said if it was a tight game then Mark Snyeeeeeed would go for a drop goal and I hoped that we had been practicing in the run up to the game. Well, obviously not!

It’s becoming a season of recurring themes, coming from behind, slow starts, silly penalties and so on.

Hull KR's Danny McGuire.Hull KR's Danny McGuire.
Hull KR's Danny McGuire.
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The Rhinos teams of not too long ago would have made it extremely difficult for the opposition to come back or even get a sniff of a victory.

We don’t seem to have anyone who is willing to hold their hand up and take responsibility to get us out of this lethargy.

The half-back pairing is not working for me at the moment and maybe bringing Jordan Lilley back at stand-off would add a touch of uncertainty for the opposition. He can kick one pointers too!

On paper, this weekend’s trip to East Yorkshire should get us back to winning ways, though once again we will be up against it in the hostile atmosphere of Craven Park.

Hull KR's Danny McGuire.Hull KR's Danny McGuire.
Hull KR's Danny McGuire.

Finally, congratulations to JJB on 400 games.

ADAM ANDERSON

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It was another defeat by one point to Hull FC last week. The only positive we can really take from these matches is that we are not losing by much.

Six games, two wins, one draw, three defeats by one point. We need to be getting some consistency and performances in now before we start falling away from the pack.

Luckily right now we are three points behind Warrington Wolves, with a game in hand, against struggling Catalans Dragons.

We need to know how to kick a drop goal, it looks to me that nobody in the team is confident for it any more.

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The other issue is Richie Myler’s workload, he’s been very happy in recent weeks in playing, but it looks like Adam Cuthbertson is trying to take some workload away in recent weeks.

I feel we need to look at moving Joel Moon back into the centres and bringing another half-back in for Myler to pair with. I just hope we can do something quickly for the good of the team.

MATT FOWLER

Another one-point defeat is hard to take and hurts that little bit more, especially after fighting back from 14 points down.

The defeat really stems from another slow start. You cannot give teams easy leads in games and then expect to win, or certainly win with a large margin. If we don’t sort out the cheap penalties and slow starts we will continually be in tight games. The effort and commitment is there and the defence, for the most part, is excellent, so let’s hope we can kick-on.

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This week it is Hull KR and, rightly or wrongly, I expect a win. With only two wins in the last six we have very little wiggle room with regards to our top-four aspirations. Losing again is not really an option, so getting a fast start will be of paramount importance.

Hull KR are doing it tough but, like we have seen throughout this and probably every other season, teams raise their game against Leeds, particularly a Leeds with the champions crown. We must expect the best of Hull KR, and I have no doubt that is what we will get, but we should have too much class. Enjoy the game.

CHRISTINE KIDD

Yet another disappointing result against Hull FC last Thursday.

The Rhinos seem to be getting back into games but then not being able to finish the job and gain the two points.

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It’s good that Leeds have the ability to fight back in games but they need to be playing better from the start.

Rhinos are now sixth in Super League but we all know that, as long as they are in the top-four after the Super Eights, they have every chance of getting to Old Trafford.

Leeds have had lots of injuries this season, especially in the forwards. Mikolaj Oledzki and Cameron Smith, two 19-year-olds, have now played in six consecutive games. They have played really well and the experience that they have gained will be invaluable for them both in the future.

Other players have been playing out of position or playing longer minutes. All this, combined with the busy Easter period, has taken its toll.

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Hopefully, more players will be back over the next few weeks and we can start to pick up some more points, starting at Hull KR on Sunday.

IAN SHARP

I would not be surprised if the referees’ sponsor is changed soon, from Specsavers to Birds Eye – because the way they’ve been blowing the peas out of their whistles in the last few weeks, they will need replacing!

There is no more a fan of our great game than me, but, at the minute, it’s boring to watch, if I am honest.

If the Rugby Football League (RFL) are hoping to get a new demographic watching, then they need to get a handle on how it’s played – too many penalties, no flowing rugby league is not going to entice new viewers.

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There was another slow start at Hull last week which seems to be a pattern this year.

Then, for 35 minutes, we were amazing, but yet again we lose by another single-point margin – for the third time this year.

It’s frustrating.

We are playing good, but seem to be missing a voice to make a decision when it’s crunch time.

Back to the east side of Hull this Sunday and it’s a game that we should be winning, but with Danny McGuire pulling the strings at KR who knows?

GRAHAM POULTER

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That’s two games on the trot Leeds have lost by one point. Like the BBC show – Pointless.

Come on Leeds, sort it out. Are you getting the point or missing the point, which is it?

Maybe you need pointing in the right direction in how to turn close losses into convincing wins. Attempts at stopping Hull from scoring in the second half were pathetic. Stand up to them and, when you tackle, tackle like you mean it, for heaven’s sake. Hurt the opposition.

I’m also yet to be won over by Richie Myler. He was hopeless in attack and threw a pathetic forward pass. A junior would have been embarrassed at that. Yes, Leeds got back into the game and in front, but yet again failed to move on and win the game in a convincing manner. But I don’t see how we can because the attack isn’t clicking.

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Joel Moon was nowhere to be seen apart from when he scored his try, and another gripe is the problem of discipline. Game after game the giving away of stupid penalties – hands in at the ruck, back chatting. Just get on with the game, will you, please.

You’re beating yourselves. Play with the thing that’s between your ears – your brain!