Leeds Rhinos: Prop aims to wipe out his painful memories

Tigers are on a four-game winning streak against Leeds Rhinos, including a 52-12 drubbing at Headingley Carnegie last May.

That was the most humiliating result in a dire year for Rhinos and Singleton insisted they are focused on proving they are a better side now than the one on duty that night.

“We all remember what happened last year against Cas, they did a job on us,” Singleton said.

“We want to make up for that. I am sure last year will get mentioned.

“I don’t think we want to make too much about it because we are trying to build some momentum on our own.

“We aren’t going to dive too much into it, but on a personal level and in the forwards I am sure we will remember it.”

Rhinos are on the back of successive wins and Singleton said they will go into Thursday’s derby in good spirits.

After a 6-4 defeat at St Helens in round one, they won 17-14 away to Leigh Centurions and pipped Salford Red Devils 20-14 last Friday, thanks to Liam Sutcliffe’s last-gasp try.

Singleton reckons that success showed Rhinos are heading in the right direction, particularly with several players struggling with illness.

It took Leeds until mid-March last year to rack up two wins and the Cumbrian front-rower said: “It was nice to get the two points.

“The past two weeks have been tough, for different reasons.

“Not that it is any excuse, but there’s been a bit of a virus in the camp.

“It’s left us a bit flat, but then to grind out the win I think compliments us – I don’t think we would have won that last year.”

Defence has been at the heart of Rhinos’ steady start to the season.

They have conceded only seven tries in their opening three games.

And Singleton added: “I think attitudinally our defence is there.

“We got that in the middle-eights last year.

“That’s what we were missing at the start of last year and now our attack needs to catch up with that.

“Our pivots get a lot of flack for the kicking game, but I thought they nailed it [on Friday].

“We got a few repeat sets and that really takes it out of the opposition. I think they won us that game.”

Particularly with Jamie Jones-Buchanan and Stevie Ward both picking up injuries against Salford, Rhinos’ pack will have their hands full at in-form Tigers.

But after a strong start to the campaign, Singleton said he is relishing the challenge.

“I am enjoying the game time,” he said. “That is what I have always wanted, plenty of game time.

“I seem to be finding my feet, so it’s good.”