YEP Jury - New look Leeds Rhinos in decent shape to make big impression in 2020

ADAM ANDERSON

This has felt like the longest pre-season in a while.

We’ve had a lot of change in the past 12 months with 17 players leaving the club so hopefully the team has been gelling well in training.

They’ve looked quite promising in the pre-season games we’ve had against Wakefield, Bradford and Wigan.

Wigan especially, coming from 10-0 down.

Luke Gale shows what we’ve missed in the past few seasons and looks to have built great combinations on that side as well as his kicking game; I’m excited to see where we go with this.

I still feel we are missing that one big signing to replace Trent Merrin, but I’m sure that’ll come.

Super League as a whole has been given a new lease of life within the past couple of months, with the launch at Headingley giving many journalists food for thought.

There are some huge names throughout the teams now, with SBW, Maloney, Sezer to name a few, every game should be an exciting watch and I can’t wait for the season to start tonight.

CHRISTINE KIDD

This year is the 25th season of Super League and there is a newcomer to the party, Toronto Wolfpack.

They will be doing their best to spoil the party for everyone else!

How will Leeds Rhinos fare this season? I’m not sure any of us will really know the answer until we have been playing for a few weeks.

Pre-season games have gone reasonably well but are no indication as to where the Rhinos will be once the season gets under way.

A number of players have left or retired, new faces have joined the Rhinos family and some players will not start the season because of injury.

Stevie Ward, as captain, is a great choice and, if Luke Gale and Stevie can stay injury free, we will surely win more games than we lose.

Sunday’s double-header will be a great start to the season.

Hull FC have brought in a number of new faces so it will be interesting to see how they perform.

Hopefully, the Rhinos will perform better and come away with the two points.

GRAHAM POULTER

So here we all are again for what is sure to be another rollercoaster of a season.

Let’s all hope that it will be an improvement on last season’s dismal showing.

This is my third stint on the jury and the last two proved to be successful, firstly Leeds did the treble in 2015 followed by being crowned champions in 2017 ,so I’m hoping that I can be a lucky omen. If only it was as simple as that.

I’m pretty optimistic for our hopes of us picking up a trophy this season, maybe not us reaching the Grand Final, but why not the Challenge Cup?

We may ‘do a Salford’ and surprise everyone in competing for both major honours this season. My only concern is the defensive side to our game. There wasn’t much in pre-season to convince me otherwise but I’m sure that it will improve as the season progresses.

The signing of Matt Prior will give the side some much-needed punch in the forwards and let’s all hope that injuries will be kind to Leeds this season.

The first game against Hull will be tough; then again every game is tough. I predict a narrow win for Leeds.

DIANNE HALL

It’s been a long off-season, again!

I, for one can’t wait for Sunday with the new concept of the double-header.

It will be interesting to see if the Hull FC fans come in to watch the first match and whether the Toronto Wolfpack and Castleford Tigers fans stay for our game.

A win on Sunday against a Hull side with a big pack will be a bonus as we have lost our opening match in three of the previous four seasons.

I don’t know what to expect this season but, with our new half-back pairing of Luke Gale and Rob Lui, and several new faces in the pack, surely it will be an improvement on the last couple of years.

I think that Stevie Ward is a good appointment as captain, as long as he stays fit.

The fixtures have given us two visits to France including a new venue in Toulouse Olympique.

Also, an eagerly-awaited trip to Toronto Wolfpack and a reunion with our most successful coach Brian McDermott.

I would like to wish Rob Burrow all the best in his fight with MND.

IAN SHARP

2020 is the Chinese year of the rat, but let’s hope it’s also the year of the Rhino!

With the heartbreaking news coming out of Headingley about Rob Burrow it was amazing to see fans from all teams out to support him and Jamie Jones-Buchanan. That just goes to show the spirit in the wider Rugby League community. It’s not always easy to take much from pre-season games, but three wins on the bounce is always going to give a confidence boost to the players.

It was a good performance on Boxing Day, and the new/old boy, Luke Gale in the middle, seems to be pulling the strings already.

Brad Dwyer, yet again, is showing his effectiveness from hooker, and it’ll be interesting to see how Richard Agar manages him with Kruise Leeming signed as this year’s No 9.

We have a new skipper this year also.

After the will-he-won’t-he saga of Trent Merrin it’s nice to see Stevie Ward get the armband. Let’s hope he stays fit.

Hull up first this year; we need to get off to a much better start than last season. So, two points please Mr Agar.

MATT FOWLER

A pre-season to remember for many reasons and with many emotions.

The proverbial broom has been swept through the squad with a sizeable raft of players leaving and some quality new additions coming in.

The golden generation now a marker in our history but still very much in our thoughts following Rob Burrow’s diagnosis with MND.

It has brought heartbreaking sadness for Rob and his young family, but also a soul-stirring spirit that has seen everyone rally around in support.

I wish him all the very best in his battle and I know he has our support unconditionally.

It cannot have been easy for the club and this new team, but they seem galvanised and ready to fight for each other, judging by the pre-season games.

This team needs to write its own history and create its own journey now.

Having said that, it will do so with the help of a legend, Jamie Jones-Buchanan.

I think he will be great for this team.

A top-five finish and a good cup run is well within this team.

Let the journey begin.