Leeds Rhinos 'prime' contenders for Super League leaders' shield says coach of rivals Hull KR
Leeds Rhinos have been tipped as likely league leaders’ shield winners by the coach of one of their main rivals.
Hull KR boss Willie Peters reckons Rhinos are “the best team in the competition at the moment” after his side were beaten 34-8 at AMT Headingley in Betfred Super League round 16. The defending champions have slipped to sixth in the table, six points behind leaders Leeds, though they have a game in hand at home to second-placed Warrington Wolves in August.
Last Friday’s win was Rhinos’ fifth in succession, they have lost only one of their last 11 games and are two points clear of Warrington, who have also played one fewer match. Peters insisted the race for first place isn’t over, but he feels Leeds will take some catching. “If mathematically we can get top spot, I’ll never say we are out of it,” he insisted.
“What we need to do is worry about Hull FC next and there’s going to be a period down the track when we’ve got three games in a week. We’ve had a tough schedule, but we can make up some points there.
“The way Leeds are playing and Wigan and Warrington, they are not going to lose too many more. I think Leeds are probably in the prime position to be able to get that league leaders. We aren’t worried too much about too further down the track, it has got to be what we do [this] week.”
Last week’s fixture was Rhinos’ annual motor neurone disease (MND) awareness game - in memory of club legend Rob Burrow - and the attendance of more than 18,000 was Leeds’ best Super League crowd since 2020. “I thought the atmosphere was outstanding,” Peters reflected.
“Leeds do this day exceptionally well, the MND awareness game. It is close to our heart because we’ve got someone - [fan] Craig Eskrett - who is very close to us.
“The way they played, they were representing Rob. The players did a great job of representing what the day is about and Leeds need to be commended for it.
“It is a great event; this disease is a horrible disease and to get as much awareness as possible is what everyone wants. Leeds were exceptional at doing that.”