A new-look Hull Kingston Rovers were leading 12-4 and seemed set fair for a first victory at Headingley since 1985 when Leeds Rhinos went through several gears in a remarkable last 15 minutes to get their engage Super League title defence off to a victorious start.
Rovers unfortunately reckoned without the self-belief coursing through the Rhinos’ veins after their Grand Final victory in October. “Fifteen minutes might not seem a lot when you’re watching but, when you’re playing, it’s a lifetime out there,” Rob Burrow, Leeds’s Great Britain scrum half, said. “We have a team who dig deep. If we’re 30-0 down with five minutes to go, we’ll still have a go. You need that if you want to win.”
Brian McClennan, the new Leeds coach, admitted being worried after a first half lacking Leeds’s usual slickness, other than for Scott Donald’s opening try on Saturday. But by the end, and in a testament to the Rhinos’ fitness, his settled team had exposed a Rovers side that included nine new signings with the bristling pace and flamboyance he wants to see utilised across the pitch.
There was no disputing that Rovers have signed well in such additions as Shaun Briscoe, who was impenetrable at full back before a facial injury, suffered in preventing a try by Kevin Sinfield, forced him off, and in the bulky duo of Jake Webster and Chev Walker at centre and Daniel Fitzhenry out wide. “The effort was excellent. We just didn’t have our brains in gear the full 80 minutes,” Justin Morgan, their ambitious young coach, said.
Morgan played down the significance of Briscoe’s withdrawal, but it was no coincidence that holes then began to appear and the lead created by Webster’s two powerful finishes was eroded by Burrow and Danny McGuire, the Leeds half backs, shifting the ball from one wing to the other before Lee Smith slithered over.
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Smith was also the beneficiary of McGuire’s slide-rule kick that got Leeds back level. Sinfield converted and also improved McGuire’s darting run from acting half back that embellished the score, but failed to detract from an uplifting display by Rovers.
“Another easy game next,” Morgan said, joking about Sunday’s visit by St Helens, who will not relish the trip to Craven Park if their hosts are minded to build on an encouraging first performance.
Andy Kelly, the Ireland coach, has issued a World Cup rallying call to players with Irish ancestry. Ireland play pool matches against Tonga and Samoa. According to the rules, he must include at least six players from Ireland’s domestic competition, but Kelly is keen to add experience. “I already have a good core of players and, with an ‘open-door’ policy, players who have missed out potentially have the chance to play in the World Cup for us,” he said.
Scorers: Leeds: Tries: Donald, Smith 2, McGuire. Goals: Sinfield 2. Hull Kingston Rovers: Tries: Jake Webster 2. Goals: Jake Webster, Murrell.
Leeds Rhinos: B Webb; SDonald, C Toopi, KSenior, L Smith; DMcGuire, R Burrow; KLeuluai, M Diskin, JPeacock, I Kirke, G Ellis, K Sinfield. Interchange: ALauitiiti, R Bailey, NScruton, C Ablett.
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Hull Kingston Rovers: SBriscoe; P Fox, CWalker, Jake Webster, D Fitzhenry; C Chester, James Webster; M Vella, K Netherton, D Mills, CNewton, B Galea, SMurrell. Interchange: SGene, G Crossman, MAizue, B Cockayne.
Referee: R Silverwood.