Don't panic, game-changer, injury concerns, Man of Steel and Eddie Rombo: latest Leeds Rhinos talking points

Injuries are mounting after last weekend’s 36-34 defeat at Castleford Tigers which ended their long winning run and they now have Wigan Warriors and Wakefield Trinity breathing down their necks at the top of Betfred Super League. All eyes will be on how Rhinos react when they play host to Bradford Bulls this Sunday. Here’s five talking points.

1: Don’t panic. Time will tell, but there’s no reason why the loss at Castleford should wreck Rhinos’ season. They’d won seven straight - and 12 from the previous 13 - so statistically a defeat was probably coming and a reality check isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

What matters now is the response. So far Rhinos have bounced back well from adverse results this season and the next two, home to Bradford and Toulouse Olympique, are games they’d expect to win.

Leeds’ margin for error has been reduced, with only a two-point gap between them and second spot, but the leaders’ shield is still in their hands, which is a good situation to be in with eight rounds remaining.

2: Game-changer. Rhinos would probably have won at Castleford but for the injury to hooker Danny Levi. They led 20-4 and looked in control when he was hurt, but - once play resumed after a long stoppage - conceded two tries in the five minutes before half-time. That said, Leeds scored 10 points immediately following the break to go 30-16 up and should have been good enough to win it from there.

Rhinos have allowed opponents to rally from a big deficit in several games this season, though this was the first time it has cost them the result, so that is something they need to work on. It’s tough to be too critical though.

Players are human and seeing a mate in such a frightening situation is bound to have an impact. When it happened to Bradford Bulls’ Will Gardiner late on against St Helens a few weeks ago the sides effectively ceased hostilities for the final couple of minutes, but that obviously wasn’t an option with half a game still to play.

It was still only a two-point margin in what is traditionally a tough fixture for Leeds and the game was in the balance until the end, so definitely a setback, but nothing they can’t recover from.

3: Injury concern. It’s unfortunate Rhinos lost their starting hooker in the only game this season they haven’t had a number nine on the bench. Levi didn’t actually fail a head injury assessment, but was out cold so is stood down this week. However, Jarrod O’Connor is expected to return from concussion.

Chris Hankinson is ruled out of the Bulls game after his HIA against Castleford and Ryan Hall (foot), Ash Handley (appendicitis) and Keenan Palasia (foot) remain on the casualty list. It’s not a crisis, certainly compared with what other clubs have gone through this term, but Rhinos’ squad depth will be tested at a crucial time in the season. Players like Jack Bird, Tom Nicholson-Watton and Presley Cassell have been waiting for an opportunity and need to make the most of it now it has arrived.

4: Man of Steel. Almost inevitably, the Man of Steel shortlist, packed with Rhinos players, was announced the day after a defeat. The current rankings, which have Jake Connor and Handley joint-top and Lachie Miller third, were from rounds 10 to 18, which excludes the result at Castleford and it’s hard to argue, though Wakefield Trinity can feel aggrieved not to have anyone in the leading 10.

Handley’s current layoff following appendicitis will damage his chances of winning the award, but he deserves recognition. He has been outstanding all year and it was obvious his leadership, as much as anything, was missed against Tigers. His steadying influence might have made a difference when things got tough.

5: Eddie Rombo. Anyone remember Eddie Rombo, the Kenyan winger signed in 1990 after catching coach Doug Laughton’s eye playing rugby union sevens? His Loiners career didn’t amount to much (four tries in nine appearances), though he did well for both Dewsbury and Featherstone Rovers, but his most famous moment was a fabulous score from distance at Castleford in a two-point defeat on February 3, 1991.

Rombo’s name was probably on many older fans’ lips after Sivo’s strikingly similar effort last Sunday, along the same touchline. It was Sivo’s first long-range score for Rhinos and took him to 31 for the season, 29 in Super League. With Brodie Croft bagging a brace at Cas, the two Leeds men have 51 Super League tries between them this year, one behind Huddersfield Giants’ team total.