Leeds await 'big plus' over withdrawn duo

The injury-hit reigning champions, who started Friday's game without six first-team players, saw Burrow and Smith limp off as their hopes of retaining their Super League crown for a third successive year took another blow with an eighth defeat of the season.

Burrow, making his return after two months out with a knee injury, left the field minutes before the end, joining Smith who had already been withdrawn, but McClennan is hopeful over their condition.

"Lee and Rob had to come off but we will assess them in the morning and on Monday but we have a feeling it is not of a serious nature," McClennan said. "That could be a big plus for us. We just seem to be losing players each week, which is a common thread throughout the Super League.

"But Rob came in with some nice plays and with his speed he can make other teams sweat. He's going to need a couple of games to get his passing game in the groove and it was good to see him back on the pitch."

All the Rhinos had to show for their efforts was Ryan Hall's second-half try and, although better handling from the England winger could have earned them a couple more scores, they were rarely in the game against an impressive Rovers outfit.

"It was a tough night right from the get-go," McClennan continued. "I thought Hull KR started strong and powerful. They executed and kicked well. We didn't. We gave away penalties and we had to drop out a couple of times.

"They jumped away on us. That was the main thing. They sucked a lot of juice out of us from the get-go.

"If you look at the cold hard facts, Hull KR played with intensity, power, accumulated a lot of possession and stunned us and took some gas out. It's akin to a boxer going out and saying 'Take some shots at me'."