BY JOHN DAVIDSON
LEEDS RHINOS are headed for another finish outside the playoffs, the third time since 2018.
As the table stands with four games left, the Rhinos sit four points below sixth-placed Salford and seventh-placed Hull KR. They play Hull FC, Wigan, Catalans and Castleford over the next month and will need to win them all to have a chance of making the top six.
It won’t happen, barring a minor miracle, but that should not surprise.
Even since the break-up of that side that won the grand final in 2017 Leeds have been average. They have finished ninth, eighth, fifth, fifth and fifth last year. And that is down to the players they have in their squad and the way the side has been assembled.
The Rhinos have swapped coaches and talent ever since Brian McDermott was sacked. The recruitment has been haphazard and poor. They have been unable to adequately replace the majestic spine they had in the past, especially Danny McGuire, Rob Burrow and Kevin Sinfield.
Let’s dig deeper.
Leeds have just one player in England’s World Cup squad last year in prop Mikolaj Oledzki. ONE. In contrast in 2017, they had two in Ryan Hall and Kallum Watkins, and in 2013 they had five.
Granted Harry Newman probably would have been in Shaun Wane’s side last year if it were not for injury, but the point is the 2023 roster does not compare favourably with previous Leeds teams over the past two decades. It is not a top squad, capable of competing regularly with the best.
The Rhinos have persisted with a halfback turned fullback in Richie Myler who is not among the elite fullbacks in the competition. Fullback is arguably the most important, at least one of the most important, positions on the field, but top rivals like St Helens, Wigan, Catalans, Warrington, even Huddersfield, field much better number ones.
The hooking position has also been a source of concern. The discarding of captain Kruise Leeming, surely one of the big earners, was an eyesore. Leeming was recruited as the future of the club, in a key position, but was quickly jettisoned.
Then it comes to the halves. Most of the top clubs have English halves, or at least one locally-produced half they can build around – Lewis Dodd, Jonny Lomax, George Williams, Harry Smith – and so on. Or they have an elite Antipodean.
Instead Leeds plumped for Blake Austin and Aiden Sezer, two ageing Aussies who are clearly past their best. There is no adequate back-up, no English reserve waiting in the wings. Yes, there are high hopes for Jack Sinfield, but he is still far too young and cannot yet be expected to carry a team.
Leeds have been forced to play second-rowers and hookers in the halves when Sezer has been unavailable, with Austin now sent out on loan.
The Rhinos need a quality English fullback, halves and hooker to build around, but have floundered in the transfer market. While other clubs have found success with imports like Jai Field, Brodie Croft and Mitchell Pearce, Leeds have struggled in the transfer market. They missed out on Field and others.
Next year they will have Lachie Miller, who has played only 18 NRL games, and Matt Frawley, a back-up half who was mediocre at Huddersfield, in their spine. That’s hardly earth-shattering.
Their recent recruitment has been severely questionable. David Fusit’ua has been injured a lot in his spell with the club, Sam Lisone has been hit and miss, Nene Macdonald has not set Super League alight and Zane Tetevano has been suspended far too often. Rhyse Martin is the only one who has been consistent and a great buy.
In the past the Rhinos have been outstanding in bringing great foreign players to Headingley – Danny Buderus, Joel Moon, Adam Cuthbertson, Ali Laut’ititi, Brent Webb, Kylie Leuluai etc. The current crop does not compare favourably.
Coach Rohan Smith can complain about the refereeing, about ruck speeds and decisions against his team. And some of his claims have merit. But it does not disguise the fact that Leeds have an average team on the field and the results – only 10 wins from 23 games – back that up.
As does the misfiring retention and recruitment policy the Rhinos have been producing for several years.
Leeds do have some talented young players coming through the ranks, and some players with real potential, like Newman, Sangare, McDonnell and O’Connor. But they lack experience and ability in key positions, and they are not getting full value from most of their signings, both from within the UK and out.
Unless they start getting some wins in the transfer market, and sort their spine out for the long-term, then their on-field mediocrity will remain.
