Leeds Rhinos' Morgan Gannon talks coping with adversity, 2nd spot hopes & facing 'best of' Huddersfield Giants
Overcoming adversity has been one of Leeds Rhinos’ strengths this year, second-rower Morgan Gannon reckons.
Ten members of Rhinos’ first team squad are unavailable for tomorrow’s (Thursday) visit to Huddersfield Giants, including Max Simpson (concussion) and Joe Shorrocks (suspended) who featured in the 34-0 success at Hull FC four days ago. Rhinos are on a four-game winning run despite a mounting injury list which includes prop Keenan Palasia after he withdrew from Sunday’s match with a knee problem, forcing a positional reshuffle just hours before kick-off.
Rhinos didn’t let Palasia’s absence, or Simpson being taken off the field on a stretcher in the second half, disrupt them and Gannon insisted: “In games and off the field, we have put an emphasis on our reaction to moments. There’s some things you can’t control and it’s how you deal with it; you have got to take it in your stride and it’s next man up.”
Simpson is going through the return to play concussion protocol, but expected to be available for next Thursday’s home game against Catalans Dragons. As someone who has experienced more than his fair share of injuries, Gannon understands how the 21-year-old will be feeling and has backed him to come back stronger.
“He was playing so well,” he said of the centre whose appearance last week was his first at senior level in three years. “He had a really good first game. Fortunately, it’s precautionary and he’s all right, but it is frustrating for him he couldn’t see it through the full 80 minutes. From what he showed in the 60 minutes he did, he was a tough player to handle.”
The long delay for Simpson to be treated on the field might have put Leeds off their game, but they went on to score the final try and kept a clean sheet, having conceded for the only time in the closing moments of their two previous matches. “That was the focus,” Gannon confirmed.
“We faced a bit on our goal line in the last 10 minutes, with a couple of six-agains. We can be better in not putting ourselves in that position, but our response and our emphasis on keeping them to zero is something we were really happy with. It’s only two tries conceded in the last three games so we are putting a massive emphasis on our defence and it is showing.”
Another win tomorrow would move Rhinos level on points with second-placed Wigan Warriors, three clear of Leigh Leopards and four in front of St Helens, who are fifth. Saints play Wigan on Friday and Leigh visit Warrington Wolves the following afternoon.
“It’s definitely possible and that’s our goal now,” Gannon said of the chase for second spot. “We’ll take it one game at a time and if we keep winning, we’ll put ourselves in a good position to finish second.
“We need to keep the wins stacking up. We’re not looking too far ahead, we’ve been preparing for the best of Huddersfield and most importantly getting the right style of rugby we want to play and keep producing that and not getting bored with it.”
Rhinos’ impressive recent form has given Gannon an opportunity to bow out on a high before his off-season move to New Zealand Warriors on a three-year contract. But he stressed: “I’m not thinking about the ending or anything like that. The best way is to take it one game at a time, the next game is Huddersfield and that’s all I am focusing on.”