08 March 2024 , 23:01
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Rohan Smith says sheer physicality was the difference as his Leeds side staged a stunning recovery.
They made it three wins from four courtesy of Ash Handley’s 69th minute beauty in a crazy game at Leigh. Rhinos, booed off at half-time, had been 16-0 down and staring at a heavy defeat. But they turned things around brilliantly thanks to tries from England winger Handley (2), Rhyse Martin and Matt Frawley’s first for the club.
The wheels started coming off for Challenge Cup holders Leigh when full-back Gareth O’Brien was sin-binned for a 52nd minute professional foul. Leeds struck twice while he was off and Aussie stand–off Brodie Croft took control.
But Smith insisted: “We had more intent to our tackle and carry in the second half and made the battle different. That was the key difference. I know the spirit is there and there's a real connectedness. It's only game four in this new adventure.
"But it was another experience where we had to chase points. We spoke at half-time about being more direct with the ball. Those tries we scored, they're our DNA in the making. But it came back to the physicality; that was the key factor.”
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Gutted Leigh scored tries via O’Brien, Kai O’Donnell and Umyla Hanley with Matt Moylan slotting two goals for a 16-0 interval lead. But they were cruelly denied a first win of the season and lost star playmaker Lachlan Lam to a nasty gash on his leg soon after Handley put Leeds in front. Rhinos prop Justin Sangare was sin-binned for a late hit on the excellent Tom Amone on 74 minutes.
But Leigh fans were fuming no Rhinos player had been carded before. Jarrod O’Connor, Croft and Andy Ackers were all perhaps fortunate not to see yellow. Leigh, missing crocked trio John Asiata, Edwin Ipape and Tom Briscoe, could easily have been further in front.
Ash Handley of Leeds Rhinos goes over for a try and makes the score 16-22 during the Betfred Super League match between Leigh Leopards and Leeds Rhinos (Getty Images)Hanley thought he’d got his second try in the 44th minute but it was ruled out by the video referee - like Amone’s effort at the end of the first half. Boss Adrian Lam conceded: “It’s very frustrating. There’s 15 minutes of mayhem there. I think the Hanley try for us - the no try - was a big turning point of the game.
“There was plenty of effort there; the first half was outstanding. It was as good as it gets in rugby league and I was really proud of that without John [Asiata] there. We can build on that moving forward going through this process.”