Spine-tingling success, a new man and super Cooper: latest Leeds Rhinos talking points

Table-topping Leeds have opened a two-point gap on Warrington and sit four points clear of the Robins who are third in Betfred Super League. Rhinos’ performance in their 34-6 win at HJ Stadium underlined their status as genuine title contenders with more than half the season completed and there’s plenty for Leeds’ fans to be excited about. Here’s five talking points.

1: Spine tingling. Rhinos’ first-choice spine - their numbers one, six and seven - is in red hot form. Brodie Croft has been excellent this year and is Super League’s joint second-highest try scorer, with 16. The stand-off is a terrific player, but working alongside Jake Connor had contributed massively to his success. The pair complement each other; converting Connor - who has been at the top of his game over the last month or so - into an organising scrum-half was a masterstroke by coach Brad Arthur. It has brought the best out of him and also Croft, who is free to focus on his running game.

Two years ago, in his first season at Leeds, full-back Lachie Miller looked like a union sevens player struggling to get to grips with rugby league. He has been transformed under Arthur’s coaching and is one of the best players, across any position, in the competition this year. The spine are benefiting from a pack playing on the front foot, but if they stay fit, available and in their current form, they’ll give Rhinos a shot at the Grand Final.

2: Super Cooper. Rhinos have got good value out of Australian prop Cooper Jenkins who was regarded as a project signing when he joined them from Queensland Cup club Norths Devils ahead of last season. He hadn’t played top-level rugby league before arriving at Leeds, but has made rapid strides and was outstanding off the bench against Warrington.

As well as being big and powerful, Jenkins - who began his career as a centre - has a handy turn of speed and there’s a lot more to his game than simply carting the ball up the middle.

He trained with Brisbane Broncos during his time as a Devils player and, at 24, his best years are ahead of him, so the extended contract he signed in pre-season, keeping him at Leeds until the end of 2028, was clever business by the club.

3: A new man. Harry Newman went through a tough spell earlier this year, but has bounced back in impressive fashion. Having signed a two-year contract with Perth Bears from 2027 it appeared his Leeds career might be over when he lost his place to early-season signing Jack Bird in March and was subsequently loaned to Hull FC.

Bird was very good in the five games he played at right-centre, but his knee surgery gave Newman a route back and he has taken the opportunity with both hands. He was one of Rhinos’ better players in his comeback game at Wigan and has scored six tries in the four matches since.

He was caught out defensively a couple of times against Toulouse a fortnight ago, but Arthur kept faith and was rewarded with a standout performance at Warrington. With Bird now fully fit, Arthur has a real selection headache, but it’s the sort of problem any coach would love to have.

4: Three down, two to go. Though only one signing has been announced, three of the five squad jerseys being left vacant at the end of this season have effectively been filled. Bird will take over from Newman and Rhinos have made it clear youngster George Brown has first dibs on Croft’s number six shirt.

Morgan Gannon, returning after a year at New Zealand Warriors, will come into James McDonnell’s second-row spot, but back-rower Ethan O’Neill - now on loan at Hull FC - is only one year into the 36-month contract and is another option.

Prop Mikolaj Oledzki and loose-forward Cameron Smith have yet to be replaced, but Presley Cassell can play in either of those positions and prop Jeremiah Mata’utia - also on loan at Hull - has an option for next term. Both he and O’Neill will effectively be new players, assuming they return to the squad next year.

Leeds also have several youngsters they are keen to give an opportunity to, including a couple of 13s. More recruitment is expected, with an experienced ‘middle’ being the priority, but it’s looking more a case of adding extra quality for next season than a major rebuild.

World Cup will he?: Could coach Brian McDermott add more Rhinos players to the quartet - Ash Handley, Jake Connor, Mikolaj Oledzki and Kallum Watkins - named in his 38-strong World Cup performance squad? The four who are in deserve to be there, but McDonnell in particular can feel unfortunate to miss out.