YEP Jury: Leeds Rhinos' slow starts and out-of-contract players becoming a concern

But the team’s slow start and poor discipline at times continues to gnaw at their concerns.

Added to that is the up-coming potential problem of nailing down out-of-contract players before other teams nip in to lure them away.

See if you agree:

ADAM ANDERSON

After last weekend’s win at Hull KR, we need to start getting some consistency together and getting the points on the board.

It doesn’t get much harder than in-form Warrington Wolves coming to Headingley.

We will have to be much better than we have been in recent matches and they’ve definitely changed since our first encounter earlier on in the season.

It’s looking a bit better on the injury front now, though, with Brad Singleton returning and Nathaniel Peteru and Jordan Lilley returning via the dual-registration system with Featherstone Rovers.

I just hope Brett Delaney’s injury isn’t as bad as feared.

This week marks the transfer window opening for rugby league, so any out-of-contract stars can be tapped up.

I am hoping that Gary Hetherington has something up his sleeve, as usual, as we have quite a number out of contract at the end of the season.

I was hoping that we would use the cap space left by Keith Galloway to bring in an extra back-rower but, to date, that particular avenue hasn’t been explored.

DIANNE HALL

Another slowish start, silly penalties and scrappy play, but then we started playing and looked good.

The only drawback – we were eight points behind! Why do we continue to do this to ourselves?

The ex-Rhinos players all played out of their skins, especially Danny McGuire who, with a sublime 40-20 set Rovers up for their first try. I don’t know what Brian McDermott said at half-time, but it worked. Outstanding defence to keep Rovers scoreless and still have enough energy to get in front on the scoreboard. Then, for what seemed like an eternity, we defended like our lives depended on it for the next 25 minutes.

Kallum Watkins played a captain’s knock, kicking four goals from four attempts, including one from in front of the east stand full of braying home supporters. Defensive mentions also must go to Anthony Mullally, JJB and Tom Briscoe.

Back to winning ways in time for the visit of Warrington. Always a tough task made harder with the addition of Josh Charnley.

Back-to-back wins please.

MATT FOWLER

Another tight game, but this time with the Rhinos coming out on the right side of the result at Hull KR.

Most of the talk after this game, and pretty much every other game this season, has been the performance of referees. Taking the emotion out of it and reflecting, I have sympathy for the referees who take to the field. The game is fast, getting faster and the play-the-ball area is nothing short of chaotic.

Players and coaches need to take responsibility. I sense some teams are now being coached to win penalties, especially coming away from their own line.

Too many players are suddenly losing the use of their legs and flinging themselves to the floor or moving sideways off the mark. Steve Ganson commented last week that he feels players are ‘milking’ penalties. Brian McDermott made that very point which he failed to take on board.

If Ganson thinks that then he needs to act.

The referee on the field needs help from his boss but also the players and coaches. Perhaps then we can get some clarity and consistency to the game – it certainly needs it.

CHRISTINE KIDD

It’s difficult to know what to say about Rhinos’ performance at Hull KR last Sunday.

Hull KR were the better team for large parts of the game and Leeds struggled to show any flair or consistency in attack. There was no urgency about the Rhinos’ play and they looked tired. That said, the tries Leeds scored were all well crafted and came from good support play.

The problem, at present, is that this type of positive attacking play isn’t happening often enough.

Goal-line defence was excellent again and KR will be disappointed that they didn’t score more tries.

Let’s hope the attack has a bit more cohesion about it tomorrow when Warrington come to town. After a slow start, Warrington seem to be putting in some good performances and will be well pleased with their position in the Super League table.

A win against a top-four side would be a confidence booster before a Cup visit to Widnes and Magic Weekend.

I am looking forward to seeing the film As Good As It Gets? on Sunday. It sounds as though it should be a good watch.

GRAHAM POULTER

Another game and another slow start from Leeds. You really need to give yourselves a shake and snap out of that bad habit, pronto.

The defence wasn’t up to much in the first half and yet again the giving away of stupid penalties from the usual suspects that mess about. When will you fellas learn?

All it does is use up a lot of wasted energy, and the attack still isn’t as fluent as it should be at this stage of the season.

The second-half effort defensive-wise was a massive plus, but, come on folks, it’s their job to do that – to stop the opposition from scoring.

What they have to do now is show that effort and desire in every game, preferably from the first whistle instead of giving themselves a mountain to climb.

So, next up Warrington Wolves who have made good progress since the start of the season.

It’s a tough game in prospect for us.

Come on Leeds, dont make it hard for yourselves.

Cut out the stupid giving away of dumb penalties and let’s get back-to-back wins!

IAN SHARP

Another game and another slow start from Leeds. You really need to give yourselves a shake and snap out of that bad habit, pronto.

The defence wasn’t up to much in the first half and yet again the giving away of stupid penalties from the usual suspects that mess about. When will you fellas learn?

All it does is use up a lot of wasted energy, and the attack still isn’t as fluent as it should be at this stage of the season.

The second-half effort defensive-wise was a massive plus, but, come on folks, it’s their job to do that – to stop the opposition from scoring.

What they have to do now is show that effort and desire in every game, preferably from the first whistle instead of giving themselves a mountain to climb.

So, next up Warrington Wolves who have made good progress since the start of the season.

It’s a tough game in prospect for us.

Come on Leeds, dont make it hard for yourselves.

Cut out the stupid giving away of dumb penalties and let’s get back-to-back wins!