Super League is caught in the Rhino fire as Leeds head for title No.6

Tony Smith announced at the end of last year he would be leaving his post at Leeds Rhinos to take up the reins as Great Britain coach.
Leeds finished second after 27 rounds and then played St Helens in the Grand Final eliminator, one of the most brutal games of Rugby League played in the modern era.  They lost 10-8 – but then went on to win the title in magnificent fashion.

A terrific 36-6 victory at Headingley Carnegie over a resurgent Wigan team set the platform for the Grand Final rematch with St Helens and a 33-6 victory in one of the more lopsided championship deciders.

They opened 2008 in excellent fashion, beating the South Sydney Rabbitohs in an exhibition match in the United States. They then recorded four straight wins to begin their title defence – three of these were by at least 20 points.

Leeds then hosted the Melbourne Storm, the 2007 NRL Premiers and far and away the best Australian side for at least two years. A typically tight game was won 11-4, capped by a brilliant drop goal from captain Kevin Sinfield. This secured the Rhinos the bragging rights as not only European Champions, but also the best club side on the planet.

They then came down to earth with a thud, losing to the current bottom team, Castleford Tigers 38-20. That scoreline represented 24 points more than any other team have put on the Rhinos so far this season.

Leeds then embarked on an impressive four-game winning streak – smashing Harlequins and Bradford by 48 and 42 points respectively, as the champions again made the statement that any other team would have it all to do to unhinge the competition forerunners. They also beat Saints 14-10 at Knowsley Road, the Rhinos closest match of the season so far.
 
Then the defining match of the season came as the champions played host to the greatest team in Northern Hemisphere league history, the Wigan Warriors. The game started horribly for the Rhinos, losing forwards Ali Lauitiiti and Simon Worrall in the first 10 minutes. Wigan, playing without star playmaker Trent Barrett, were very aggressive in the ruck area, and dominated the game defensively, shutting down the Rhinos vaunted attack and going on to win 14-10.

Brian Noble's Warriors are resurging and will prove to be a threat to Leeds' title hopes – but Brian McLennan has a very strong squad, despite having injuries to seven front-line players. There is also the gauntlet of the Challenge Cup to overcome, and St Helens and Bradford, as well as the Warrington Wolves, are far from weak and have over three months to mount credible challenges.

But Leeds are in a very strong position – they have the strongest offensive record in the competition. Defensively, they are all but untouchable, with the Rhinos' wall being twice as miserly as the next best defensive side, the always indomitable Bradford Bulls. Leeds have a points difference of +190, a staggering 143 points better than the next team – again the Bulls.

The Rhinos field seven British league internationals, including the most capped current international, Keith Senior. They also field three Kiwi Internationals, including first-choice representative centre and full-back Clinton Toopi and Brent Webb.

There are 17 more games left of the Engage Super League and seven of these game are against current top four teams. Eight are at home, and nine away – an intimidating schedule. But with the platform there, I cannot see anyone stopping Leeds march to a sixth championship title.

REMAINING FIXTURES

APRIL
11th Warrington Wolves (H),  27th Hull Kingston Rovers (a)

MAY
3rd Bradford Bulls (Millennium St), 16th Wakefield Wildcats (H), 23rd Bradford Bulls (a)

JUNE
6th Hull FC (H), 14th Harlequins RL (a), 20th St Helens (H), 28th Castleford Tigers (H)

JULY
5th Wigan Warriors (a), 11th Huddersfield Giants (H), 19th Catalans Dragons (a)

AUGUST
3rd Warrington Wolves (a), 8th Bradford Bulls (H), 15th Castleford (H), 22nd Wigan Warriors (a)

SEPTEMBER
7th Wakefield Trinity Wildcats (a)