A long turnaround to next Sunday’s game at York Knights will be welcome for Leeds Rhinos, but the loss to Leigh Leopards has left them with work to do.

Rhinos’ first home defeat of the season was a blow to their hopes of finishing top in Betfred Super League and they are now picking up injuries on a regular basis. Australian front-rower Matt Lodge is due to arrive in England tomorrow (Sunday) and will be in contention for the game at York. Here’s five talking points.

1: Why Matt Lodge was signed. If it wasn’t obvious before the Leigh game why Rhinos have brought in an overseas prop with less than a month of the regular season remaining, it is now. Matt Lodge carries some baggage off the field, but he’s a big, tough and experienced forward who has been playing regularly in the southern hemisphere NRL this year for North Queensland Cowboys.

At 31 he’s nowhere near over the hill and, hunting a contract for 2027, he will be highly motivated. Also, the fact is, Leeds need reinforcements. They are clearly missing Keenan Palasia who isn’t expected back from injury until next month’s visit of Hull FC and now second-rower James McDonnell has joined the casualty list. Rhinos’ bench against Leigh included Presley Cassell in his 18th senior game, Zak Lloyd, for his second and Fergus McCormack, who would have made his fourth appearance if he got on. The squad is getting stretched.

Matt Lodge, seen on the ball for North Queensland Cowboys against Gold Coast Titans in March, will beef up a Leeds Rhinos pack which is depleted by injuries. Picture by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images.

placeholder image — Matt Lodge, seen on the ball for North Queensland Cowboys against Gold Coast Titans in March, will beef up a Leeds Rhinos pack which is depleted by injuries. Picture by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images.

2: Zak’s the way to do it. When Jack Bird failed a head injury assessment late in the first half against Leigh, Lloyd came on in the left second-row with Chris Hankinson switching into the backs. The 18-year-old certainly didn’t look like someone with just one previous substitute appearance to his name.

Peter Smith's Leeds Rhinos player ratings from 20-16 loss to Leigh Leopards

He made a stunning try-saving tackle on Josh Charnley - though Leigh scored in that set - and contributed some impressive carries in the second 40. Lloyd has already caught the eye of clubs overseas, but has a very bright future at Leeds if they can tie him to a long-term deal.

3: Backs to the wall. Arthur will have a decision to make in the three-quarters when he names his team to face York Knights on Sunday, August 23. Bird is ruled out automatically after his failed head injury assessment and wingers Maika Sivo and Alfie Edgell are already on the casualty list.

Jack Bird will miss Leeds Rhinos' next game after being concussed in the defeat by Leigh Leopards. Picture by Steve Riding.

Harry Newman can go to his regular position in the centre, but who’ll play wing? Riley Lumb is the obvious choice to come in, but on the three occasions he has played in Super League this term he has been left out of the following game.

Hankinson could switch to the outside-backs, but will probably be needed in the second-row. Ned McCormack is another option, but youngster Oscar Brown was mentioned in Arthur’s post-match press conference. He is highly rated by Rhinos’ backroom staff and made a 30-minute return from long-term injury in the reserves on Friday. Sunday might be a bit early for him, but he could be the next cab off the rank in terms of a first team debut.

4: No complaints. Sometimes you just have to accept the other team were better on the night. Probably nine times out of 10, with the amount of territory and possession Leeds had on Thursday, they would win the game, but Leigh’s defensive effort was magnificent and credit to them for taking chances when they came.

Leeds were an inch away from maybe snatching it at the end, but it looked like the big effort at Wakefield Trinity six days earlier had taken a bit too much out of them. They lost their composure with the ball at times and were vulnerable on the edges, which has been a problem at times this year.

Teenager Zak Lloyd has impressed off the bench in two appearances for Leeds Rhinos. Picture by Matthew Merrick/SWpix.com.

5: Shield shoot-out. Unless something really unexpected happens at Odsal this evening [Saturday], Wigan Warriors will be level on points with Rhinos going into next weekend’s round 24. They have a couple of tricky games coming up, at home to Wakefield and Hull KR, but it looks like Rhinos’ penultimate game of the regular season, at home to Wigan, will be a shoot-out for the league leaders’ shield.

Trinity are back in the mix, but will need to win at Wigan and Leigh and Warrington have also forced their way into the top-three picture ahead of their midweek four-pointer at Hull KR. Leeds’ superior points difference means they could lose one more - and there’s a trip to bogey side St Helens looming - but still finish top if they beat Wigan. Second place would be an improvement on last year, but disappointing given how much of the season Rhinos have spent in pole position.