Again unfair to say its like Agar I remember playing Hull fc this time last year - that was absolutely dreadful

For me tonight we was the slightly better team between too sides who looked rusty and made lots of errors you'd think we was in Round 2 of a long grueling Super League season? Oh wait ..... I think us a a fan base needs to be patient and can't overreact and make knee jerk reactions. I want the Rhinos to win & compete every game but its not going to happen. We should have took our chances as hull gave us a few tonight and it was our own silly errors that cost us in the end. Macdonald had a steady debut a few errors but nothing that he shouldn't fix up. Sangare added great impact and is exactly what we've missed in our pack I just hope he can maybe last a few more minutes and maybe do a stint at end of first & second halves. Our spine seems to kill itself in games Myler, Austin, Sezer & Leeming no general to lead by example but I'm gonna back Rohan to get then firing hopefully in the not too distant future. It was definite improvement on last week and like I said if we was clinical and didn't make costly errors we could have had the 2 points tonight but wasn't meant to be.

An improvement on last week maybe, but still a poor display, even though we had enough chances to win it.
We looked clueless in possession, both halfbacks were poor along with Myler. Although in Mylers defence he is at his best when getting the ball as second receiver and hitting the centres and wingers, but he was hardly given a pass in that position. It was one out from dummy half most of the night.
Smith, Sangare and Holroyd went well and if given some decent ball Mcdonald looked useful. But it was another poor performance overall and Although we are only 2 games in the similarities to the start of last season cannot be ignored.

Well if we end up where we did last year it will be ok



To me it’s nothing like last year those two home games against catalans and hull were absolutely pathetic.

We have watched some garbage in last few years, but this was definitely not that. That game could have gone either way.
My only criticism and ways to improve are what I’ve said before.
1) Leeming makes some terrible decisions at big moments. To not get a kick in on the last x2 on their line is schoolboy stuff.
2) a fullback with pace /support play means we are guaranteed to convert at least one of those frankly brilliant and entertaining line breaks.
Lots of positives and for me O’Connor /Johnson should be our hookers as season progresses. I’d also play Hooley when fit as has pace. We’ll get nothing next week, but then we need to build’on tonight…….

I know its a long season but as we saw last year confidence can quickly drain from the team. We'll be 0-3 after next weekend and then under huge pressure to win the week after.

This tactic of zero line speed and zero kick pressure makes for a very frustrating watch.

A lot of unhappy punters around me in the south stand tonight.

Some of the fans were pathetic- some leaving at half time chuntering.

I would start O'Connor and use Leeming from the bench.
Regarding the line breaks, when Handley broke down the left side I think he had Austin inside him and between them they couldn't execute a basic 2 on 1. That was poor whoever is fullback. Myler has scored plenty of tries in the past with his support play, we just aren't playing with any fluency at the moment.

Spot on

Yep. I watched it back tonight and Danny McGuire said in studio you cant afford a bad start as you become too desperate for that first win and confidence can drain quickly. Our first win will be wakey followed by a 50/50 against Cas. Could be 1-4 after that quite easily

We don’t know how much the WCC has taken out of Saints yet, I wouldn’t automatically write that game off we will break our losing streak against them at some point

Forgot to say that Martins defence was a real weak link. Looks unfit to me too. Seems to escape criticism, but really needs to improve imho….

I noticed that he was flagging at around the 60 minute mark. Walking back into position, avoiding play, that kind of thing. He wasn't the only one either.

I thought MacDonald looked unfit during the same period. He looked like he was struggling at times, and sadly those that suggested he may have being passed fit too early might be right.

Over all, the teams performance looked a bit more positive. Some good passages of play, some good breaks, a hint of skillful ball handling, and some good defence in parts. But something still seems to be lacking. Consistency isn't there, nor leadership. We could have walked away with a win tonight, but we don't look like we could beat anyone and everyone.

Rohan needs to seriously question the current style of play, and reassess. The passive defence is losing too much yardage. We had three break away runs that could have been converted into points if there was actually some support. We had wingers with space not receiving the ball. We handed over the ball on soft sixth tackle plays instead of taking the 50/50 chance of gathering a high kick. The list goes on.

Mostly we just do not look like a fit team who actually want to fight for every inch of the pitch for 80 minutes.

I was impressed with Sangare & Holroyd, can’t wait til Oledzki & Bentley are back though plus I’d give Sam Walters a go before Donaldson who adds absolutely nothing.

Having rewatched it were very, very ordinary around that spine again. Austin probably the pick but I'm not sure he has the talent to make that off the cuff stuff really effective. And for all the clever sounding stuff preseason, we look a side woefully short on ideas, other than the odd attempt to catch defenders napping.

Effort was there. That’s the main thing. We have good players and a big, strong back line. We’ll come good, players were communicating well and clearly frustrated at end. That’s a good sign….

Smith was a lot happier after the game. As well as the passive defence, I hope he rethinks some selections.

Handley is not a centre. Supposedly Olpherts can play there, but of those three only Roberts actually looks like a centre. MacDonald on the right was OK, but I'm pretty sure he's played most of his career on the left?

With Gannon out maybe McDonnell comes straight in. Agree Donaldson is a bit of a waste of a spot. Walters would add more size to the bench, and Lisone needs to be kept out of the team until he gets fit. He should be at the Bulls, not getting out of puff with Leeds.

From being one of our best last year, Martin has started really poor. Offering nothing with the ball and making some poor efforts in defence. Hope he regains his form.

Gannon. While I wouldn't question his bravery, that's more games missed. Someone needs to sort that technique. In its own way it's as daft as players repeatedly picking up bans for the same offences. In fact more so, considering the potential consequences.

I should have explained myself a bit better. The poor sets of 6 in their 20, not kicking on last tackle, lateral one out runs reminded me of Agar type stuff.

Looking at positives I thought fusitua looked bit sharper and ran hard, took try well. Mc Donald ran well. Holroyd better again and Tet had a better game.

On sezer, 40/20 was great and he did the long ball to Fusitua to score and tackled well in the main. Which was more than say Myler. 1,6,7 and for mine in particular 9 are not cohesive enough.

Don’t think we are at panic stations yet. I’ve been crying out for more presence up front and the addition of Sangare and return of Holroyd is a huge boost there. Add Oledski and we look half decent suddenly.

We have some interesting options in the back line now although I don’t know what our settled 1-5 is yet. Great to see Fusitua getting stuck in; there is a player in there somewhere.

I really do think Smith needs to wield the axe at the end of this year though. Too many of our players are just not good enough - we have too many “solid SL” players and not enough Leeds quality.

I think weve already seen Smith isn’t afraid to get rid of deade wood, I would think he can’t wait to get his own half backs next year, I will say though Austin hasn’t been that bad, he gives 100% i realise that’s not always enough though

On reflection, a close game that just went Hull's way.
A couple of passes stick and we win it.
Much improved from last week, but still a way to go.
Holroyd and Smith were the pick and McDonald looked good going forward.
1, 7 & 9 are a big concern.
If O'Connor is not first choice 9, then we need a new one. Leeming is not good enough. We need control from there.
Sezer is a problem. Doesn't look interested and you can go 30 mins in a game without seeing him.
Myler is in his last season and is making mistakes.
Austin tries hard, but it always looks like desperation stuff.

If we can get Sangare and Lisone fit, we have a good prop rotation.
Mik, Harry and Bentley will make a difference.

Calls for his head are ridiculous, but two criticisms of Smith.
The passive defence and no pressure on the kicker is not good. It's giving the opposition momentum.
Changes get made too late - why did Sangare not come on earlier. He needs to rotate the big guys more.

The sliding defence is also a concern. We look like we will concede a lot of tries out wide.

Well I am surprised. Most people seem to think there are some positives but I thought we were clueless.
Once Hull moved the ball about our defence and tackling was useless.
We had very little creativity in attack for most of the game. Even when we had a set in their 20 we didn't move the ball just one pass from acting halfback and rinse and repeat. So boring and easy to defend.
Why we give the opposition 10metres on every tackle when they are bringing the ball out of their own 20 just confuses me.
Is this is the style of play the coach wants? If so any half decent team will run circles round us.