Leeds Rhinos’ Defensive Woes Exposed in Crushing Defeat to St Helens
Pundit Laments Rhinos’ “Passive” Defensive Approach
According to Sky Sports pundit Jon Wilkin, Leeds Rhinos are the architects of their own downfall, as their poor defensive game plan was on full display in their 40-10 thrashing at the hands of fierce rivals St Helens.
This heavy defeat marked the second consecutive lopsided scoreline for Rohan Smith’s side, who were blanked by Catalans Dragons in their previous outing in Perpignan. It also represented the Rhinos’ fourth loss in their last six matches, with their only two wins coming against the 12th and 11th-placed London Broncos and Hull FC respectively.
“Wilkin, speaking pre-game, lamented Leeds’ ‘passive’ defensive style, arguing that their initial contact is weak, and they consistently ‘back off’ instead of dictating the intensity of the game. The former St Helens captain asserted that this appears to be a deliberate game plan under Smith, with the Rhinos ‘being told ‘Don’t concede line breaks because line breaks mean point’, well I’m telling them that conceding metres means losing games.'”
Statistics Reflect Leeds’ Defensive Struggles
The statistics support Wilkin’s scathing assessment. Leeds conceded a staggering 1,832 run metres against St Helens, along with an alarming 37 play-the-balls in their own 20-metre zone – six times more than they managed in Saints territory. This passive approach led to fatigue, as evidenced by the Rhinos’ 45 missed tackles, compared to just 20 for the clinical, well-drilled Saints.
Wilkin’s pre-game comments proved prophetic, as Leeds’ completion rate of just 68% was dwarfed by St Helens’ impressive 96%. This underscores the Rhinos’ struggles to compete against top-tier teams, with their last six games highlighting that they can only contend with bottom-two opposition.
Pressure Mounting on Rohan Smith
With growing calls for Rohan Smith’s dismissal, including from former Super League match official Richard Silverwood, the pressure is mounting on the Leeds boss to find a solution to his side’s defensive woes. Their upcoming clash against third-bottom Castleford Tigers will be a crucial test as the Rhinos look to turn their season around.
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