Pressure on Leeds Rhinos, Man of Steel contenders, why Brad Arthur isn't England coach: latest talking points

Rhinos extended their winning run to four matches - all using the same 17 players - when they beat Catalans Dragons 46-4 last week, but Trinity are likely to pose a tougher challenge. With two wins out of three last year and one victory over Leeds already this season, Daryl Powell’s men will travel to AMT Headingley in a confident mood. Here’s five talking points ahead of that game.

1: Pressure on Rhinos. Friday is probably a bigger game for Leeds than Wakefield. The visitors have made a good start to the season, but don’t carry the same weight of expectation. Along with Hull KR and Wigan Warriors, Leeds are now 5/2 joint-favourites to win this year’s Grand Final. Trinity are 33/1 outsiders.

The game is on Rhinos’ turf and they have lost to Trinity already this year, in the Betfred Challenge Cup, so the pressure’s on them. There were mitigating factors for Leeds the last time the sides met: a five-day turnaround less than two weeks after arriving back from Las Vegas and no Brodie Croft because of injury.

Now, Leeds have a fully-fit squad and a full week to prepare. Defeat wouldn't be the end of the world, but it’s the sort of game against a top-six rival they need to be winning if they are going to challenge for the title in little more than five months’ time.

2: Player of the season. With a third of the campaign completed, it’s difficult to pick out who’s favourite to be Rhinos’ player of the year. After back-to-back Super League player of the month awards, Maika Sivo would have to be up there, but Croft and half-back partner Jake Connor have been very good, Ash Handley has had a fine start to the season and the whole pack has impressed. Sivo and Croft, in particular, should also be in the reckoning when the new Man of Steel panel - comprising Ellery Hanley, Joe Lydon, Paul Sculthorpe, James Roby and Sam Tomkins - meet for the first time.

3: Brad Arthur and England. It’s a shame the Leeds man didn’t get the nod to coach England at this year’s World Cup, though ex-Rhinos boss Brian McDermott is a good appointment. Apparently, Arthur was very impressive in his interview and while reasons haven’t been given, the YEP understands the selection panel’s only real concern was lack of clarity over his future.

Arthur is out of contract at the end of this year and hasn’t yet made a decision on whether he’ll stay at Leeds. He’d probably only leave for an NRL job and it wouldn’t be practical to combine that and the England role.

Though the appointment is initially for the upcoming tournament, it could be extended beyond that if things work out and presumably the panel wanted someone who could commit long-term, if necessary, which McDermott is keen to do. Arthur and fellow Super League coaches will have a part to play, however, in keeping the new boss up to speed on players who may be in his plans.

4: Jackson Hastings. The Jackson Hastings to Rhinos rumour has been doing the rounds for a while and the Australian half-back did come close to joining Leeds seven years ago, before instead signing for Wigan Warriors. Rhinos was a possible destination for Hastings again 12 months ago, but he ended up at St Helens.

Leeds may or may not be in the market for a stand-off, depending on whether Brodie Croft pens a new deal, but suggestions Hastings has signed a contract with Rhinos for 2027 are false.

5: Semi-final confirmed. Rhinos’ women are 80 minutes away from Wembley. They will face old rivals St Helens in a Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup semi-final at Doncaster on Sunday, May 10 (1pm). That’s a curtain-raiser to the men’s showdown between Hull KR and Warrington Wolves. The other women’s semi-final, the previous afternoon, sees holders Wigan Warriors take on York Valkyrie at Warrington.

Rhinos lost to Saints in successive finals from 2022-2024, but have begun the season in good form and are yet to concede a point in three Challenge Cup ties, having beaten Leigh Leopards 82-0, London Broncos 72-0 and Cardiff Demons 68-0.