Video: Home comforts could provide missing attacking impetus for Leeds Rhinos

FRUSTRATED Tom Briscoe admits Leeds Rhinos' attacking failings are heaping pressure on the squad's defensive workload.
Leeds Rhinos' players applaud the traveling fans after edging out Leigh Centurions last Friday.  Picture: Bruce RollinsonLeeds Rhinos' players applaud the traveling fans after edging out Leigh Centurions last Friday.  Picture: Bruce Rollinson
Leeds Rhinos' players applaud the traveling fans after edging out Leigh Centurions last Friday. Picture: Bruce Rollinson

They host Salford Red Devils on Friday having picked up their first win of the Super League season with a hard-fought 17-14 success at newly-promoted Leigh Centurions last week.

However, the Rhinos had to hang on for victory with two crucial last-ditch tackles denying their opponents a famous win at the climax.

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“We made it really hard for ourselves in that second half,” admitted former England winger Briscoe, who saved his side with the second of those dramatic defensive efforts.

Leeds Rhinos' players applaud the traveling fans after edging out Leigh Centurions last Friday.  Picture: Bruce RollinsonLeeds Rhinos' players applaud the traveling fans after edging out Leigh Centurions last Friday.  Picture: Bruce Rollinson
Leeds Rhinos' players applaud the traveling fans after edging out Leigh Centurions last Friday. Picture: Bruce Rollinson

“There were too many silly errors, giving the ball away in our own half, and I thought our kicking game just got them on the front foot straight away.

“Leigh’s back three had great games, carrying the ball fast and strong back at us. We wanted to try slow them down, but they were good. We struggled with that and struggled to win the ball back.

“The way we attacked we put a lot of stress on our defence so credit to our goalline ‘D’, but we do need to fix our attack up pretty sharpish.”

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Leeds were scrappy in their opener, too, managing just one try in a 6-4 loss at St Helens, and they hope to remedy quickly those offensive ills on Friday.

Leeds Rhinos' 
Tom BriscoeLeeds Rhinos' 
Tom Briscoe
Leeds Rhinos' Tom Briscoe

However, the visitors, who won at Huddersfield last Thursday, could give a debut to ex-Australia Test stand-off Todd Carney, voted the world’s best player in 2010.

Briscoe, 26, added: “It will be a tough game. I saw Salford had signed Carney and he should be here in time for it.

“It’s down to how he fits in to how well Salford will go this season.

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“I think he’s a great player and if he plays against us we’ll need to do our homework on him.

Leeds Rhinos' players applaud the traveling fans after edging out Leigh Centurions last Friday.  Picture: Bruce RollinsonLeeds Rhinos' players applaud the traveling fans after edging out Leigh Centurions last Friday.  Picture: Bruce Rollinson
Leeds Rhinos' players applaud the traveling fans after edging out Leigh Centurions last Friday. Picture: Bruce Rollinson

“But we’ve started with two away games so it will be nice to get back to Headingley, too. Hopefully we’ll put in a bit of a better performance in attack to give them something to cheer.”

On his vital tackle on Leigh’s Matty Dawson, Briscoe said: “(Willie) Tonga got on the outside of whoever was two in (Kallum Watkins) so I just chased back as hard as I could.

“It just happened that he ran into me a bit so I then tried to do what we do – save those tries.

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“That’s what we need to do at the minute; our attack is putting our goal-line defence to the test.”

Leeds Rhinos' 
Tom BriscoeLeeds Rhinos' 
Tom Briscoe
Leeds Rhinos' Tom Briscoe

Both sides could be missing players through suspension on Friday.

Salford winger Justin Carney has been charged with a Grade C contact on referee James Child while Leeds back-row Jamie Jones-Buchanan faces a Grade A dangerous contact charge.