Leeds Rhinos big-match verdict: Key points from Rhinos' defeat of '¨the Dragons
Here are five talking points from Leeds’ third win of the season.
1: So Leeds do have points in them.
After scoring 51 in their previous four games, a 32-point second half will have given Rhinos massive confidence.
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Hide AdA few positional changes worked. Joel Moon did well in the halves and that allowed Jimmy Keinhorst to start in his favoured position of centre.
And it was good to see Liam Sutcliffe have a fine match in the back-row, which could well prove to be where his long-term future lies.
Landing nine goals from as many attempts will also have done him a power of good.
2: Adam Cuthbertson has struggled to regain his form of 2015 when he was a Man of Steel nominee, but he is heading in the right direction.
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Hide AdHe is now Rhinos’ joint-top try scorer with three, alongside Keinhorst, the off-loads have begun to flow again and he is developing an understanding with hooker Matt Parcell which will give Leeds an extra dimension on attack.
3: Ashton Golding received some criticism for his performance against Castleford, as did everyone else, but he is beginning to make a name for himself with his try-saving tackles.
His remarkable effort to halt Justin Horo, when Leeds led 8-0 in the first half, may prove to be a significant moment in Rhinos’ season.
4: It has been an anxious few days for Brad Singleton, who was placed on report in the first half. Catalans coach Laurent Frayssinous accused him of elbowing Greg Bird in the head, in a late tackle and claimed the Rhinos prop should have been sent-off. The incident will be studied by the RFL match review panel who will decide if Singleton has a case to answer.
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Hide Ad5: Rhinos’ under-19s fought out an entertaining 34-34 draw with Catalans in the curtain-raiser. Forwards Owen Trout and Alex Sutcliffe, centre Harry Boyes and scrum-half Tom Schofield showed good signs for Leeds, but Catalans’ lightning-quick winger Jordan Flovie is also someone to keep an eye on.