Leigh Leopards 20 Leeds Rhinos 6: Rhinos left grounded as Leigh profit from swift start

Picture by Olly Hassell/SWpix.com - 21/04/2023 - Rugby League - Betfred Super League Round 10 - Leigh Leopards v Leeds Rhinos - Leigh Sports Village, Leigh , England - Leeds’ Cameron Smith being tackled by Leigh’s Zak Hardaker

LEEDS RHINOS suffered what space types call a ‘rapid unplanned disassembly’ when they crashed to earth in a hugely disappointing 20-6 defeat at Leigh Leopards.

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to work out Rhinos simply aren’t consistent enough at the moment to be a real force in Betfred Super League.

After two good wins, they went into the game in decent form and with a strong, relatively settled 17, but were blown away in the opening quarter, when they went 16-0 behind.

Leigh were more or less faultless for 30 minutes, but then started to make mistakes and didn't score another try.

Rhinos cut the gap to 10 at the interval, but didn’t ask enough questions of Leopards’ defence in the second-half, despite spells of pressure.

Rhinos haven’t started well in most games, but this was a shocker. The smoke from the fireworks had barely cleared when Edwin Ipape touched down from Lachlan Lam’s grubber; then six later Lam was the provider with a pass to put Kai O’Donnell in to make it 10-0.

Ben Reynolds missed the second conversion so it could have been worse - and soon was as the outstanding Ipape went over from acting-half and this one was converted.

Leigh missed two big chances after that, John Asiata spilled Ipape’s pass in front of the line and Ricky Leutele was held up over it. Leeds’ only good field position in the opening 38 minutes came via a penalty and Zane Tetevano knocked-on.

But just before the interval, Nene Macdonad stole the ball from Gareth O’Brien – following his own kick – and Blake Austin put James Bentley through a gap on the final play of the half, Rhyse Martin improving.

The final 40 was evenly fought and Leeds were better defensively.

But Leigh went 12 points clear when Reynolds booted a penalty after a high shot by Justin Sangare and though Leeds kept trying, it clearly wasn’t going to be their night.

That was confirmed when Reynolds booted a late penalty for an off-the-ball shove and the hosts were certainly good value for their first Super League win over Rhinos.

Leigh Centurions: O'Brien, Charnley, Leutele, Hardaker, Briscoe, Reynolds,Lam, Amone, Ipape, Mulhern, O'Doinnell, Holmes, Asiata. Substitutes: Mellor, Seumanufagai, Davis, Wilde.

Leeds Rhinos: Myler, Macdonald, Newman, Martin, Handley, Austin, Sezer, Oledzki, O'Connor, Lisone, McDonnell, Tetevano, Smith. Substitutes: Bentley, Holroyd, Tindall, Sangare.

Referee: Ben Thaler (Wakefield).