Do The Rhinos Enjoy Defending Enough?

Leeds have an impressive 42-12 win over Bradford Bulls, but potential concerns over injuries and lack of a defensive mindset grow.

Irrespective of the final result, Bradford were first to score at nine minutes through Guy Armitage on the left. The visitors did score two in total, but it is the first one which most acutely brings the home team's defensive and injury concerns to the fore.

In reality, it was in the home team’s intention to attack that actually gave the field position for the first try. First, Broady Croft picked up a ball five meters off his own line and instead of getting low to prevent an easy defensive hit he decided to try and run it. Low and behold he was picked up in a three-man tackle and driven back over his own line. To make matters worse, Lachie Miller decided to go short with the ensuing goal-line drop out and put it out on the full. Concerningly, this is not the first time a goal-line drop out has gone wrong this season for Leeds. 

Both these early decisions from the home side when the scoreline was 0 - 0 point towards an attitude centred on all-out attack, which does not take the context of the match into consideration. There is absolutely no need to get on the attack so soon into a game, but to play as if there is, is an indication that a team prioritises scoring over protecting their own line, irrespective of the risks involved.

Leeds Rhinos about to get the second half underway

The Rhinos got away with miscalculations around risk on this occasion but did not last week against Castleford Tigers and certainly shouldn't against the teams at the top of the table as we approach the latter periods of the Super League season. To mitigate against such miscalculation it seems important that the Rhinos work on their defensive mindset. 

Moreover, choosing safety does not have to be dull. The very best teams can really get themselves up for, and appear to enjoy defensive successes as much as the offensive ones. 

The satisfaction for players and fans of stopping the opposition in their tracks with big hits should almost be equal to the joy of scoring at the other end. It bears repeating that lack of defensive willingness may prove decisive in close matches as the league leader and grand winner gets closer to being decided.

Arguably, a growing list of injuries including Ryan Hall, Dani Levi, and the leading try-scorer, Maika Sivo means a developed defensive mindset is particularly pressing now. As strong as the attacking performances continue to be from play-making backs like Jake Connor, and battering-ram forwards like James McDonnell, with so much attacking prowess and awareness on the sidelines it seems especially irresponsible to leave defence undeveloped. 

I may be accused of being overly pessimistic, but I am by no means suggesting the Rhinos should stop their free-flowing style of rugby in the correct half of the pitch. Rather, they should just incorporate this into a broader defensive mindset which doesn’t take the risks of full-blown attacking rugby in your own half. 

As shown by the two quick tries at 51 and 53 minutes immediately after an enormous 40/20 from Connor, creative play should take place far away from your own try line. Dropping the ball more than fifty meters down the pitch trying to do something special is generally far less costly than doing it with striking distance of your own line. 

It would be incredibly infuriating for the Rhinos to have their current brilliant season ruined in the dying embers as a result of taking more unnecessary risks.