Pre-season relegation favourites Hull KR will be a tough nut for Leeds Rhinos to crack

Storm Ciara put paid to Leeds Rhinos' Super League round-two game at Huddersfield Giants last weekend, while storm clouds may well be gathering behind our Yorkshire Evening Post jurors should their side slip up against Hull KR at Emerald Headingley on Friday night.
Leeds Rhinos captain, Stevie Ward. PIC: Steve RidingLeeds Rhinos captain, Stevie Ward. PIC: Steve Riding
Leeds Rhinos captain, Stevie Ward. PIC: Steve Riding

Before the campaign kicked off, Hull KR were many pundits' choice as relegation favourites.

However, they've already surprised one or two and our Leeds Rhinos jury reckons they'll be a tough nut to crack. Here's what they've had to say:

ADAM ANDERSON

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The storm, Ciara, has caused many issues over the past couple of days, including the postponement of our game.

Hopefully, we can find out when the rescheduled game is going to be played sooner rather than later.

It looks as though it’ll end up midweek unless they wait and see how far each team gets in the Challenge Cup.

Looking to this week, and we have a tough encounter with Hull KR.

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They were named favourites to be relegated before the season started. I know we are early on but, for me, this is a game we must be winning to show any of our credentials going forward.

Hopefully, Stevie Ward and others have got over their knocks and are available.

Rumours are rife at moment for us in terms of signings,.

We are being linked with forward Sam Lisone and back Jai Field again, both of which would complement our squad very well.

We do need another forward, for me, as we are light in that department – an aspect of our game that was exploited by Hull last time out.

GRAHAM POULTER

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I was so looking forward to seeing if Leeds could get back to putting so many wrongs right from the embarrassing defeat by Hull in the game at Huddersfield, but thanks to the stormful behaviour of Ciara the game was rightly cancelled.

At least it gives Leeds the chance to put in some hard graft on the training field, if the weather hasn’t intervened again – and also the chance for a couple of the players to recover from knocks.

So, on to tomorrow’s visit of Hull KR. I watched the Hull derby and thought that Hull KR gave a very good account of themselves and, in my opinion, they were unlucky to lose the game.

They pose a threat in a lot of positions so Leeds will have to defend much, much better as a unit than they did against Hull, and take any chances that present themselves.

Leeds do, potentially, have a lot of tries in them.

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However, it’s in the middle where we lack aggression and physicality and it worries me that the forwards aren’t laying the platform for our half-backs to create havoc for the opposition.

IAN SHARP

Will having a week off be just what we needed, or will the players still be brooding over last week’s mauling by Hull?

I guess we will find out on Friday when the other Hull side is in town. I’d like to think that they all got a well-deserved kick up the backside after the embarrassing performance in front of a full Headingley.

Since we dispensed with Brian Mac we seem to have not got any better in terms of recruitment/tactics.

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It does beg the question what is going on that we don’t know about?

We can all see we are so light in the pack and have not one enforcer that can change a game with a few big hits, or tackle busts but yet we don’t seem to sign players in to these positions, when most other clubs have and it showed in droves in the first game.

Unless we get some better tactics to beat these big packs, or sign our own, it’s going to be another long season for Leeds Rhinos.

On a positive note: Well done to all of of those who walked to Huddersfield in the storm last Sunday for the Rob Burrow appeal.

MATT FOWLER

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Calling the game off last week was probably the correct decision.

Some would say its “Health and Safety gone mad” but we move with the times and erring on the side of caution when public safety is in question is not really something anyone should apologise for. No Super League chairman wants to hear this but playing fewer games and starting the season in March is probably the solution to preventing these games being called off because of bad weather.

Watching the first three or four games in pretty horrible conditions every year is not really selling the “summer rugby” concept. Hull KR are next up and they looked pretty impressive in their defeat at Hull. I thought, for 60 minutes, they were the better team and played some good expansive rugby. They will certainly come buoyed by their performance.

We need to be better in pretty much every facet of the game. I’m not sure how much quality training the boys have managed to get done but with no game last week it feels like we have a second chance to start our season. Let’s hope it’s a better performance.

DIANNE HALL

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I thought the advent of summer rugby would mean no postponements, but Storm Ciara had other ideas!

Most games managed to be played, but sadly ours wasn’t one of them. It was, however, the right decision at the right time to call the game off, as most of our fans would not have set off by then.

However, it was too late for those who did the Walk for Rob from HQ to Huddersfield in those very trying conditions. Well done to them!

Only time will tell if the postponement will help or hinder us.

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We might get some injured players back and, although Hull KR will be battle hardened, hopefully the brutal “Big City derby” will have taken its toll on them. In Thursday’s televised game, the injury to Alex Walmsley in the warm-up disrupted Saints more than they thought it would.

Wire played exceptionally well to nil Saints, I wonder, could it be their year?

Well done to Underbank Rangers who beat West Wales Raiders to reach the fourth round of the Challenge Cup and earned a trip to Bradford Bulls.

CHRISTINE KIDD

The Super League table isn’t looking too good at the moment with Leeds Rhinos sharing bottom place with Toronto Wolfpack.

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It’s not really as bad as it seems as Leeds have played only one game. Tomorrow night will be a great chance for Leeds to leapfrog Toronto and get some points on the board. Hull KR, our opponents, have started the season well despite the fact that they were beaten by Hull FC last week. The Rhinos will need a great improvement all across the park to compete with Hull KR. Hopefully, Stevie Ward will be back and everyone, particularly the forwards, will put in a much better performance.

Even if the game last week had gone ahead, it would not have been very pretty to watch with a howling gale and pouring rain. As a spectator, it wouldn’t have been especially pleasant getting to or watching the game in such conditions.

Who knows what will happen this weekend with another storm on its way? Games could again be cancelled which would lead to even greater fixture congestion.