YEP Jury: Leeds Rhinos' demolition of Hull KR was a joy to watch, now let's have more of the same

CHRISTINE KIDD

Most Rhinos supporters were worried about last Friday’s game against Hull KR. I’m sure that not many would have predicted the Rhinos would score over 50 points.

Friday night’s performance restored our faith in the team and gave us hope that we would not be in a relegation battle for the third season in a row. Rhinos played like a team and were well organised by Luke Gale. Luke Briscoe, Harry Newman and Cameron Smith were excellent.

Konrad Hurrell had one of his best games and looked like a marquee player at last. If the team continue to play like that they will win more games than they lose.

A trip over the Pennines to Salford on Saturday is next on the agenda. Salford have started the season reasonably well despite the fact that they have had a few personnel changes.

Kevin Brown will be missing for Salford but the Rhinos should have Rhyse Martin available which will mean a selection headache for Richard Agar.

A return trip over the Pennines with two points would be a welcome change after last season!

ADAM ANDERSON

The game against Hull Kingston Rovers last Friday was a very enjoyable watch for us.

We’ve been on the back of these scores a number of times whilst having our struggling years so to be able to put 50-plus on someone is nice.

Every player deserves a shout-out for that, but for me, Cameron Smith and Luke Briscoe were the best.

Smith looks like a new player, it looks to me he has been given quite a bit of freedom under head coach Richard Agar which has helped him.

Briscoe cemented his place on the wing for another game. The game showed us why Harry Newman needs to be in the centre position too.

Onwards to Salford Red Devils on Saturday and our biggest challenge yet.

They’ve struggled to get to their 2019 heights so far, hopefully they don’t hit form against us.

Squad choice will be interesting as Rhyse Martin is due back, but Stevie Ward misses out again due to concussion.

Who do you drop out from that game against Hull Kingston Rovers?

GRAHAM POULTER

The performance by Leeds last Friday night against Hull KR was an absolute joy to watch. They also played as a team and attacked and defended as a unit.

I haven’t seen that kind of performance by Leeds in a long, long time. There were however a couple of lapse moments in concentration when Hull KR scored a couple of tries but that is something that Leeds can work on to rectify for when they face much tougher opponents than Hull KR showed on the night.

I was expecting Rovers to give Leeds much more of a game but Leeds didn’t give them the opportunity to do so.

The key now for Leeds is to produce that kind of performance by being both ruthless in attack and defence on a more consistent basis. Let’s not let one very good performance go to our heads.

Just keep getting the performances on an individual and team level correct and the results will surely follow.

Now let’s hope Leeds can go to Salford on Saturday and again produce a team performance and it leads to Leeds coming home with two valuable points!

DIANNE HALL

That was a Valentine’s Day present I didn’t anticipate! I thought we would win but not in that manner or by that margin.

It was pleasing to see players in their correct position as they all looked at home.

Whether Richard Agar’s hand was forced due to a couple of key personnel missing I don’t know but it worked.

The game produced some scintillating tries from outstanding teamwork and some magic from several players including Luke Gale who was my man of the match.

He showed just what we have been missing at half-back and he adds to our goal kicking options when Rhyse Martin is missing. Something that we have missed since a certain Kevin Sinfield retired. We just need some grunt up front now!

I felt happier leaving HQ on Friday than two weeks ago and although one swallow doesn’t make a summer, this game showed what we are capable of.

Next up is Salford without Kevin Brown. Let’s kick on and claim the two points. It’s World Club Challenge weekend also and I can’t see beyond a Roosters victory.

MATT FOWLER

What a difference a few weeks make. The win against Hull KR was impressive. Fast free flowing rugby with some long-range tries gave the crowd renewed optimism for the season.

Having Luke Briscoe back, who was outstanding, and Harry Newman back in his favoured centre position gave the team a much better balance. The forwards laid a platform for Luke Gale and I thought he ran the show.

We are only two games in but that is now the benchmark. I think we can probably raise the bar again, as we got a little sloppy and over excited at times. This week will be another good test at Salford.

They haven’t started the season in great form but will be a dangerous team having lost narrowly last week.

We need to carry on where we left off and the forwards need to lay that platform again for Gale to lead us around the park.

Rhyse Martin will hopefully be back so there will be more of a selection headache for Rich Agar.

I fancy us to register our first away win of the season this Saturday.

IAN SHARP

Pensive and nervous, were just two of the emotions I was feeling as I walked in to Headingley last Friday night, but wow they were all blown away in the first 20 minutes.

We looked structured, organised, a far cry from the team that got taken apart by Hull FC a few weeks before. I thought KR, were hampered by losing Jamie Ellis in the warm up, but looked a shadow of the team that pushed Hull FC so close the week before.

Luke Gale had a very good game, he took charge from the off and led the guys round the field. Yet again I thought Robert Lui was unimpressive. He looks unfit/injured?

My only concern is that Hull KR’s pack is a similar size to ours and we had more skill, but when we come up against bigger packs I think we might still struggle.

For all Brad Dwyer’s and Konrad Hurrell’s off-the-cuff style and passion, jumping out of the line in defence and missing the tackle is leaving space in behind, which against better teams could be a worry.

It was a much improved display, let’s kick on in the first away game.