Rob Burrow tributes, new sporting director and improved form: latest Leeds Rhinos talking points

Though Rhinos’ women have a huge game coming up at Wembley this weekend, rugby has been low on many fans’ priority list amid overwhelming shock and sadness at the death of one of the club’s favourite sons, Rob Burrow. A men’s fixture this weekend would have been difficult for players and supporters alike, but after a week of mourning attention will turn to the next match, at Hull FC on Saturday, June 15. Here’s five talking points.

1: Tough times ahead

The next few weeks will be difficult for everyone connected with Rhinos. The game at Hull is the men’s first since Burrow’s death and a week later they return to AMT Headingley to face Leigh Leopards on what will be an evening of high emotion.

The way Rhinos as a club have handled a traumatic situation has been exemplary. Many of the staff and players lost a friend, but they have pulled out the stops to ensure his passing was marked with love and respect. The makeshift shrine at Headingley has proved a comfort to many who felt like they knew Burrow personally, through his exploits for so long on the pitch and his remarkable bravery since his motor neurone disease diagnosis.

The entire sport has been affected. Messages from across the game have been left at Headingley, including clubs whose fans wouldn’t normally give Rhinos the time of day. It’s testament to what an outstanding human being he was and is entirely fitting.

2: Sporting director.

Life goes on and Rhinos remain confident of appointing a sporting director sooner rather than later, though obviously that has taken a back seat over the last few days. The new appointee will oversee the entire rugby operation and be responsible for hiring and firing of players and staff.

It’s effectively the role Kevin Sinfield did until he left the club three years ago and bringing in a successor is overdue. Other than when Sinfield was in post, chief executive Gary Hetherington has run that side of things as well as non-playing matters and this will ease the burden.

Though he has been linked, don’t expect to see Sinfield back at the club any time soon. He is focussed on coaching and likely to stay in rugby union at Harlequins. The club are keeping tight-lipped, but one name being mentioned as a possible contender is Salford Red Devils chief executive Ian Blease.

3: Cas-tastrophe averted.

There were dire predictions of an epic defeat last weekend, but Rhinos got the job done against a very poor Castleford Tigers side. Leeds dominated throughout and beating anyone 32-4 in Betfred Super League is a decent result.

Was it a case of papering over the cracks, or a turning point? Leeds weren’t faultless and are a long way off playing to their full potential, but it was a step in the right direction and most supporters would have settled for a 28-point win before kick-off.

How poor Tigers were isn’t really anything to do with Leeds, all they could focus on was winning the game and they did that quite comfortably with some individuals playing much better than of late. It was something to build on, but Rhinos need to prove they can do it against better opponents.

4: Which individuals?

Most notably, Matt Frawley had his best game for Leeds. He has been a bit of a scapegoat, but scored a try and was involved in several others. It was a spirited response to half-back rival Jack Sinfield’s hat-trick for the reserves the previous evening.

Lachie Miller, at full-back, cut out the mistakes and was an attacking threat and the pack took the game to Tigers. Prop Justin Sangare used his size and power to good effect and showed signs of what he is capable of. Like the team as a whole, the challenge for certain individuals now is to do it more consistently.

5: Aggressive not passive

Tigers didn’t throw much at Leeds, but Rhinos defended well when they were put under pressure. They were far more aggressive - in terms of getting into the opposition’s faces - than in previous games and that worked much better than the ‘passive’ style of defence used for most of this season.

Leeds looked a much more balanced side with Rhyse Martin in the second-row and Paul Momirovski at centre. Credit also to Corey Johnson who came into the team at short notice and did a good job as replacement hooker. He is out of contract this autumn and, with Andy Ackers and Jarrod O’Connor ahead of him, it’s hard to see where he’ll fit in at Leeds for 2025. But if he does leave, whoever snaps him up will get a talented young player with a lot of potential.