YEP Jury: Luke Gale will be key if Leeds Rhinos are to pass the play-off test

MATT FOWLER

The path to the Grand Final is now clear, Covid permitting. The right decision was reached in the end to finish the regular season early and give those teams in title contention a rest.

I think had we continued as was, the play-offs would have been an utter disaster with most teams physically spent.

At least now we have a chance to produce high-energy games that are worth watching.

Catalans will be a real test. They already appear fired up by the comments that they were picking and choosing which fixtures to play in the regular season. In the end they completed only 13 games.

They may come into the game fresh but potentially undercooked.

Leeds will be battle hardened that is for sure and could be overcooked.

It points to a great game and, as always, discipline and keeping the error count down will give Leeds their best chance.

The season is on the line and I expect Luke Gale to be the key to our success.

Sean Long may even have a trick play or two to pass on to unlock the defence.

It could come down to one magic moment.

CHRISTINE KIDD

At the end of a very strange season, Leeds Rhinos are back where they belong – in the Super League play-offs.

It looked as though they were going to miss out but, thanks to Covid, the top four became the top six!

On Monday, a strange face appeared on Rhinos TV talking about getting ready for the game against Catalans.

At first I couldn’t work out who it was and then it became clear that the Rhinos had brought in Sean Long to help James Webster as Richard Agar is self-isolating.

Long will be a great addition to the coaching team and has lots of experience of playing in big games.

Every game now is knockout rugby. Richie Myler, Konrad Hurrell, Matt Prior and Tom Briscoe are all back in training this week after a period of self-isolation.

Owing to injuries and suspension, team selection isn’t much of a problem except at full-back.

Will Myler return to full-back or will Jack Walker get the nod?

If the team play to their potential they should be able to overcome the Dragons and progress to the play-off semi-finals.

GRAHAM POULTER

So, after having a week off and having had the time to rest and recuperate, Leeds should be fresh and raring to go to take on Catalans Dragons at Warrington on Friday night.

Catalans will also have had the chance to rest after also having had time off, so we can hope to see a good game between the two sides especially with a semi-final place on offer to the winners.

The losers of this game obviously are eliminated and their season over. Leeds already have an excellent record in knockout football this season after having won the Challenge Cup last month.

Leeds can expect some heavy-duty collisions with the big forwards of Catalans, so Leeds will need a heavy-duty, 80-minute performance from our forwards to lay the platform for Luke Gale to do his magic.

I expect that Catalans will try to ‘do a number’ on Luke Gale to minimise the plays that he’ll try to put on, so hopefully, Leeds will have worked out how to combat that proposition.

I think that it will be a tight game and it could possibly be won by a drop goal or even be won in golden point.

DIANNE HALL

While I have missed seeing the Rhinos play, I am pleased that the unforced break has given them a chance to recharge their batteries and get some bodies back, ready for the business end of the season and sudden death.

Our opponents this week, Catalans Dragons, have played fewer games than us and everyone else, which I think is unfair, but don’t get me started on this farcical season!

Whether that will be an advantage to the Dragons we will have to see.

I don’t know how we will perform against them as the only time that we have played them this season was not a true reflection of what I know a full-strength Rhinos team is capable of.

Preparation this week has been hampered by head coach Richard Agar having to isolate owing to Covid-19 protocols.

This has resulted in our new assistant-coach, Sean Long, starting his new job earlier than expected.

Talk about throwing him in at the deep end – but it will let us see what he is made of.

A step nearer the Grand Final and the double I hope!

IAN SHARP

Being English, we love a good farce, but not when it’s involving the great sport of rugby league.

Recently, we had a full revamp of the play-offs, teams not playing owing to most of the squad testing positive for Covid, clubs pulling out of the rest of the season altogether – and all of this in a week.

I am sure the RFL and the clubs have had in place some protocols and player bubbles, so how come it’s affected some more than others?

After a spell of playing games on the bounce and no rest, we have had a good spell for the players to rest up for the elimination semi-final against the Dragons, a team that have played once since October 9 and are somehow in the play-offs.

Maybe they will be too well rested and ring rusty but you never know which Catalans Dragons side will actually turn up.

The pack they have is one of the biggest in the league and we will need to be at our best in that area to give Luke Gale the platform to work his magic.

That’s if the game doesn’t get cancelled first!

ADAM ANDERSON

It was a well-earned rest last week for the Leeds Rhinos lads, coupled with an extended play-off system.

I have to say I was fairly pleased with the decision to extend the play-offs.

The lads were clearly off their feet in recent weeks and the rest will have done them good.

It’ll be great to have Konrad Hurrell, Matt Prior, Richie Myler and Tom Briscoe back involved after their Covid break. Hopefully we don’t have any more issues over the next few weeks.

Catalans Dragons will be no walkover; they may have played the least games but were still in the top four and could have stayed there throughout.

Their players will be ready to go come game day and, in knockout rugby league, anything can happen.

Three wins away from another Super League trophy; I have every faith in the lads and hope they can do it.

I have to give congratulations to Wigan Warriors on lifting the league leaders’ shield; they deserved it in the end.

Support the YEP and become a subscriber today. Enjoy unlimited access to local news and the latest on Leeds United, With a digital subscription, you see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Click HERE to subscribe.