Leeds Rhinos fans hail 'best performance' v Hull KR as Maika Sivo & Brodie Croft steel Las Vegas show

The new World Club champions were torn apart in a 10-try super-show, led by winger Maika Sivo and the Brodie Croft-Jake Connor half-back combination. Our panel agree it was the best Rhinos have played in years. Here’s their assessment of an unforgettable 80 minutes at Allegiant Stadium.

DAVID MUHL

Wow - what a performance. I can’t remember the Rhinos playing as well as that for several years. The backs will rightly get a lot of the plaudits, but it was the pack that won the game. From the kick off they dominated Hull KR; Cooper Jenkins had his best game for Leeds and Cam Smith and Kallum Watkins’ workrate was immense. Keenan Palasia was dominant and Danny Levi gives the team so much go-forward and balances well with Jarrod O’Connor, the tackling machine.

I can’t write about the game without mentioning Maika Sivo, what a player - four tries against the top team and a major hand in Ryan Hall’s try. Our half-backs had what I would say was the perfect game; Jake Connor’s kicking was top class, he controlled the game and landed goals from all over the field. He also produced a brilliant 40-20 while Brodie Croft ran superbly, scoring a couple of tries.

I’ve said before he plays so much better when Jake’s on the field. I think Jake takes the pressure off him and allows him the freedom to run. A mention must go to our fans who travelled to Vegas in great numbers and got behind the team in big style. I think they really are the 19th man.

I think this was a game we always had in us, but everything clicked. Brad Arthur has turned the team into winners and long may it continue. It’s Castleford Tigers back at HQ next and let’s hope the Vegas adventure hasn’t taken too much out of us, but I feel we have players left at home who could still do a job against Cas. Up the Rhinos.

IAIN SHARP

Emphatic is a good word and, in my opinion, not used often enough. There are other equally good words like ‘humiliation’ or ‘stuffing’ or ‘gubbing’ that could be used too. For those of us keeping the home fires burning, keeping up with events was either down to the television pictures or huddled under the duvet following text-based coverage online, with a start time gone midnight in the UK. If any curious Americans had popped in to see the game, they’d have said the boys in blue were the current champions, as Leeds ran Rovers off the very expensive park.

If you weren’t convinced last week, Miaka Sivo is going to be a real handful this season. The cheeky short restart that saw him go 90 yards and led to a flowing move for Ryan Hall’s 350th career try was the real highlight. My biggest fear about the jaunt to the US was never about the game itself, but the coming back afterwards.

Previous sides going out there have struggled upon their return to the UK and have looked sluggish in games directly afterwards, I presume because of jet lag. Let’s hope the homecoming is well managed as we take a step down next Sunday from Las Vegas to merely Cas Vegas and with the added pressure of Leeds now going into the game as unofficial World Champions.

BECKY OXLEY

The Rhinos delivered an electrifying performance in Vegas. I am truly amazed by them and I find it difficult to express my feelings adequately. Given that they played over 5,000 miles away on an unfamiliar pitch, this is the best performance I’ve witnessed from them in several years.

The entire team functioned as a cohesive unit. Maika Sivo is beyond description - charging down the pitch for four tries, he was absolutely on fire. The commentators referred to him as a ‘beast’ and they were spot on. The Rhinos’ support for him after his season-long injury shows they believed in his potential and he has certainly proven his value already.

Jake Connor and Brodie Croft worked together seamlessly in the middle, like smooth butter. The speed and quality of the entire team were exceptional and we are only three games into the new season. It’s thrilling. The team played in harmony, which contributed to the high-scoring game. We didn’t give Hull KR any opportunities, and the statistics reflect that overall.

On Sunday we return to reality at Headingley against Castleford. If we perform as we did in Las Vegas, I believe we could achieve another whitewash. However, the jet lag might affect us, so realistically, I would be satisfied with two points. I anticipate Headingley will be buzzing and I am eager to return to my spot in the South Stand.

TOM GOLDSWORTHY

In a result very few saw coming, Leeds pulled out all the stops in Las Vegas to beat recently crowned world champions Hull KR, putting 58 points past them in the process. This is the best I have seen Leeds play in a very long time; there was a real intensity to our game in both attack and defence. All the players stood up to the occasion and put in a performance to make the fans who travelled proud.

After scoring two tries on his debut last week, Maika Sivo stole the show on the world stage as he scored four incredible tries and made 191 metres. The highlight for me, however, was him picking the pocket of the KR players to collect Lachie Miller’s drop out and race up the pitch which led to Hall's try. We missed a consistent try scorer last year and if we can keep him fit, Sivo could be the missing link to turn us into a title-winning side.

Another player I wanted to highlight was Brodie Croft. He has come under fire during his time at Leeds, especially from myself, for going missing during games, but he was on fire in Vegas. He was instrumental in everything good we did and stepped up in defence when called upon.

Croft and all the team have set a precedent for how good they can play, the challenge now is to keep it up and find some consistency. Looking ahead to Castleford, I imagine there will be a bit of a comedown from the highs of our trip to Sin City. It is all well and good winning our big games, but it counts for nothing if you cannot back it up against smaller sides. It's well known playing Leeds is like a cup final for the Tigers who will be pumped up for the game, but if we play half as well as we did against Hull KR, this should be a straight forward win for the Rhinos.

KATIE MARCZYNSKI

Can we play you every week? Saturday was the best I have seen us in a long time. I can't believe we're attacking like this in round three. We didn't just beat Hull KR, we dominated them.

Apart from a few lapses in concentration in the last quarter - which I’m sure Brad Arthur will be disappointed with - every single player was fantastic. We proved we can show up when it comes to the big stage and completely outclassed the world champions.

Jake Connor controlled the game from start to finish and brought out the best in Brodie Croft, who was unreal. Our forwards worked tirelessly and our wingers, well, what can I say? A masterclass from a 38-year old Ryan Hall and a Maika Sivo who’s a few weeks away from being at his best, according to Arthur. It has been a long time since we’ve looked this competent in every area.

Back to HQ this Sunday when we face Castleford. They are doing it tough on the injury front, with some big names out already. That said, I’ll be expecting an easy win for the boys, hopefully another big scoreline to keep us knocking on the door at the top end of the table.

ALEX SHARP

Las Vegas was wonderful, fantastic, terrific, superb, incredible, amazing, magnificent, unbelievable – and the rugby was brilliant. We waited 13 months for Maika Sivo and I wouldn't be bothered if he didn't play again for another 13 – he gave me a memory I'll never forget.

The Yorkshire Evening Post’s coverage of Leeds Rhinos in Las Vegas is in association with Betfred Super League. Saturday’s showdown between Rhinos and Hull KR at Allegiant Stadium is an early highlight of a packed year of club rugby league action which also includes the Challenge Cup final at Wembley on May 30, Magic Weekend’s blockbuster return to Everton FC’s Hill Dickinson Stadium on July 4-5 and the Super League Grand Final on October 3 at Old Trafford. Experience live Super League. League Hits Different. To guarantee your place, visit Super League | Tickets.