YEP Jury: Great to see Leeds Rhinos finally back to their pre-lockdown best

MATT FOWLER

They say rugby league is a simple game, tackle harder and run faster than your opponents and the chances of winning are vastly increased. Leeds did both those things to great effect against Salford Red Devils.

Silly errors were minimised and discipline was excellent. When we get those right we look a decent team and the attack will improve even more as the season progresses if we can maintain those core principles.

When Salford showed some fight and wrestled the momentum from us for a brief spell we kept our composure and halted their progress.

That will hopefully give us some confidence. The two weeks off were a test for Richard Agar and on that evidence he passed with flying colours. Now to kick on.

We need to show the same commitment in the forwards and I hope for another good win next time.

Richie Myler has been outstanding for us so Agar’s next test is fitting Jack Walker back in the team and maintaining Myler’s influence.

It’s a good headache to have.

CHRISTINE KIDD

A greatly-improved performance from Leeds Rhinos saw them post a big win against Salford Red Devils last Saturday.

Fewer errors and penalties meant that the Rhinos were able to control the game and score tries.

The return of Robert Lui and Richie Myler added to the quality and speed of the team.

Myler’s support play was excellent and Ash Handley’s return to the wing position led to a hat-trick.

Wakefield Trinity would have been next up for Leeds but the game was called off today after two Wakefield players had tested positive for Covid-19.

There was some interesting news from the Rhinos this week that we had signed Brett Ferres and James Harrison on loan deals from Featherstone Rovers.

This seems to be a sensible move to cover for injuries and shouldn’t preclude some of our youngsters from getting a game as the fixtures are going to be coming thick and fast in September and October.

DIANNE HALL

That was more like it! After a couple of maulings and poor performances we finally got it back together against Salford Red Devils.

The way that the handling, discipline and play options improved showed just what this team is capable of, even missing a couple of key players. There was a welcome return for Richie Myler, giving an almost faultless display at full-back.

The first of Salford’s tries wasn’t his fault as he would have had to be seven feet tall to cope with the wicked bounce that resulted from Niall Evalds’ kick.

He linked well with the attack and his hat-trick was well deserved, making him my man of the match.

The balance of the team was much better with all positions filled by the right player. One of the highlights was Mikolaj Oledzki galloping 30-odd metres for his try in the second half.

One swallow doesn’t make a summer however, and we need to perform like this against the top four but it certainly makes a welcome change from the doom and gloom of the past few weeks.

GRAHAM POULTER

Wow Leeds, just where have you been hiding that performance?

It was like watching the Leeds team who played before lockdown, so it’s nice to see that we have recovered from the breakdowns of the previous two performances. Salford just weren’t at the races and Leeds took full advantage of their failure to turn up.

My only concern was Leeds’ inability to keep their foot on the pedal and be totally ruthless in putting Salford to the sword, as Leeds had them on the back foot for just about all of the game.

That’s something for Leeds to put right in future games if they happen to be in a similar situation again.

Leeds have just got to keep defending the try line like their lives depend on it and be as ruthless as possible at the other end of the field!

They must just remember not to take their foot off the pedal.

Next up would have been Wakefield Trinity, but that game was called off due to two Wakefield players testing positive for Covid-19.

IAN SHARP

Well, the performance against Salford Red Devils was a bit more like it, control the ball, the ruck, complete your sets and the game looks so much easier.

I said the other week that we needed to have some plan when we got in the the 20-yard zone and we had a massive improvement this week, we looked like the team we were, pre-lockdown.

The pack was so impressive last week, which gave the halves and backs more time in the danger areas of the pitch to work some magic.

Robert Lui had a half-decent game and having Ash Handley back on his wing seemed to give the side much more fire power.

A special mention again for Richie Myler, the organising he was doing on goal line defence and the commutation was outstanding and he was my man of the match by a country mile.

When Jack Walker is back in the team, I’d be playing Myler at six.

We need to start with Brad Dwyer at nine, he’s the more in-form hooker in the side at the moment.

ADAM ANDERSON

It was a great performance last weekend against Salford Red Devils.