Leeds Rhinos reaction as coach Rohan Smith says 'we did Rob Burrow proud' in big win v Giants

Burrow and his family were guests of honour at Rhinos’ annual motor neurone disease awareness game and fans sang his name throughout.

Smith said: “It was a really strong performance on a really special night. This club does so much more than worry about winning games and the way everyone - the club and fans - paid tribute to Rob and his family, it was a fitting performance to acknowledge that.

“Those people are doing things for the greater good, not just focused on the result of the game.

“I am very pleased with how we played and more pleased with how we prepared and responded to a disappointing last showing that wasn’t up to standard.

“We owned up to it and trained hard, trained with purpose and found a few solutions. A lot of things were good tonight. It was nice to be able to do it for Rob and his family.”

Rhinos, beaten by Super League’s bottom pair of Castleford Tigers and Wakefield Trinity in their previous two games - turned on the style to run in nine tries.

It was their biggest home win since a 66-12 defeat of Toronto Wolfpack in the final game before the Covid lockdown three years ago.

Winger David Fusitu’a bagged a brace in his first appearance since suffering an ankle injury at the end of March.

Aidan Sezer and Sam Lisone also impressed in their return from injury and Rhyse Martin finished with 26 points from two tries and nine goals.

Smith added: “Good results like this reinforce or build confidence. For those that needed a reminder, in and outside the building, that we are a good team.

“For those that already knew, it confirmed that. I am one of the latter, but for those who react and respond to results or a single performance.

“A week’s a long time, as this competition has shown this year. It’s great, people need to embrace and enjoy that.

“You have got to play well to win. I thought it was a good team performance, a positive performance. I take it one week at a time and that’ll be the message, we’ll enjoy it, but tomorrow we start recovery and get ready for a battle at Warrington.”

Friday was arguably Rhinos’ first 80-minute performance in 2023. Smith added: “We played well from start to finish, pretty much.

“There were probably a few moments in the second half where we could have been a bit more clinical, but at that stage it is difficult sometimes when the result of the game is taken care of. The players played with energy and were very connected.”

One blot on the evening for Leeds was the loss of Cameron Smith to a “bump on the knee” in the second half.

His coach was confident the injury isn’t serious, but admitted the loose-forward is in “some doubt” for next Thursday’s game, along with prop Justin Sangare who also limped off in the second half.