Lew on League: Leeds Rhinos v Bradford Bulls
But first…
Salford 12 - 30 Leeds Rhinos. Again this was not an easy game for Leeds. Salford were unable to put out a full side due to injuries. I did not see this game but the reports suggest that they gave Leeds a hard time in a somewhat scrappy affair in which Leeds did not show their usual clinical finishing. Leeds were without McKenna and Ellis as well as the long term injured Diskin and McGuire. Nevertheless they had sufficient strength in depth in their squad to put out a team that should have been capable of matching the strongest in the league.
On Thursday, Leeds are at Odsal to take on the old enemy, the Bradford Bulls who now seem to be coming back to their old form. I did see their match with Hull who themselves are a very good side and although Hull did match them try for try the Bulls seem to have more of the possession and Deacon’s superior goal-kicking gave them the victory. They have now won three games in a row and the fact that they are playing on home ground will give them a slight advantage. Leeds for their part, when playing at their best look to be the superior side. They seem to have a more controlled defensive set-up and when under pressure appear to be able to strike back from any part of the ground like the St Helens sides of recent years. The game may depend on which team can produce their best form on the night or which goal kicker can produce the better form. Personally I expect Leeds to produce top form for this game and win convincingly. But then I could be wrong.
Talking about St Helens they do seem to be the form team at the moment. Having been beaten by Leeds in the second game of the season, they have since been unbeaten, with each game showing an improvement in form. On Saturday, playing at home, they thrashed Wakefield by 64 points to 16. I saw the first half and though for twenty minutes Wakefield did seem to be matching them, it was clear that St Helens were faster all over the field. Finally the Wakefield defence collapsed and the Saints proceeded to tear them apart.
If tomorrow Leeds were to play Saints and each showed the form they exhibited at the weekend, then I feel that Leeds would have lost their unbeaten record. Vinnie Anderson, the New Zealand international, has at last been able to show what a fine signing he is, Cunningham is back to top form and centre Jamie Lyons has struck up an outstanding partnership with winger Darren Albert. If they can do things like this on the soft grounds of winter, what will they do when summer brings the hard grounds? I think that this season is going to be an even contest between Leeds and St Helens. On Friday they travel to Wigan. It should be a blinder.
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