Rhinos planning to attack in bid to retain Super League crown

Although the address is more directly aimed at the Leeds squad themselves as they strive for the consistency that has eluded them in recent seasons, it also serves as an ominous warning for the rest of the competition.

Granted, the West Yorkshire side was far from ruthless throughout last term when they finished fifth for a second successive year but they still mustered all their usual class when it mattered to reach and conquer Old Trafford.

Sinfield, though, appears to say Leeds – victors in five of the last six campaigns – are far from a finished product and there is more still yet to come from Brian McDermott’s trophy-laden side.

Ahead of Friday’s opening game of the new campaign against Hull FC, he said: “Teams often talk about defending titles but I think we’d like to attack for this one.

“Perhaps last year we sat back too much in certain areas and let teams start thinking they could beat us before we got started.

“It’d be nice if we can change that and we are not a club that will relax, take it easy and put our feet up.

“It’s probably been our Achilles heel at times that we wait in games to get a kick up the backside before we get going for some reason but, hopefully, things will be a little different this year.

“We’ll be doing our very, very best to finish higher.”

Of course, Leeds are wary that they espoused similar feelings 12 months ago without being able to produce the desired killer touch.

However, there is a strong sense emerging from Headingley Carnegie that a third successive return of such sorts will not suffice.

“We’ve not had a real ‘goal’ chat, as things stand, but I think you all realise this club doesn’t want to be fifth and neither do these players,” was Sinfield’s take on the matter.

The England captain feels the quality of the competition is going to increase, however, as the sport enters this World Cup year and, so, the task of retaining their title will be more taxing than ever.

“A lot of challenges lie in wait for us this year and, as a group and a squad, we need to be better,” added the stand-off, recently voted the world’s best player.

“Each club is going to want to do better than what it has done previously and when I look through the teams I don’t see a weak link.

“But I expect standards to go up in Super League anyway this year and for it to be really tough and difficult. That means every week people will have a crack at us but we’re looking forward to giving that back.”

McDermott has augmented his options with the capture of high-calibre Salford City Reds centre Joel Moon and two further Australians, Joe Vickery and Mitch Achurch, leading to chief executive Gary Hetherington proclaiming it is the best assembled Rhinos squad yet in the summer era.

Sinfield, 32, said: “When you look at our squad list you’d say ‘yes’ we have strengthened as we’ve got three Aussies brought in and the young lads have got a lot more experience now, too.

“But I think sometimes you can be fooled a little bit by looking at names on a sheet of paper. I’d rather be asked that question after six or seven games when I can tell you how players have bedded in, whether we’re gelling and whether there’s a genuine competition for places out on the training ground as, ultimately, that is what will drive us forward. I’d like to hold my judgement for a few weeks and see how we’re travelling then.

“The danger is becoming complacent, thinking the squad is good enough and we’ll get by.

“I don’t think we can do that and we need to attack and get ready to rip in from day one when Hull arrive here at Headingley.

“But it’s certainly a big year for everyone especially with the World Cup coming up, too.”

Of the potential challengers to their crown, Sinfield can understand why Hull have been attracting attention.

“Gaz Ells is a huge signing for them, Daniel Holdsworth was in great form last year and Ben Galea has been brilliant at Hull KR,” he said of the Airlie Birds’ new recruits. “But (bottom-placed) Widnes with Gaz Hock and Kev Brown have really strengthened and that’s what I mean about not seeing a weak team.”