Salford Red Devils 6 - 32 Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos overcame a tumultuous start to secure a dominant 32-6 victory against Salford Red Devils at the Salford Community Stadium, scoring six unanswered tries.
Riley Lumb contributed two tries, while Jake Connor delivered an exceptional performance, helping the Rhinos recover from an early setback when they conceded a try within the first two minutes. This match marked their first win of the new season, with Morgan Gannon, Ash Handley, James Bentley, and Ryan Hall also marking their scoring accounts for the year.
Brad Arthur made one adjustment from round one, as Cooper Jenkins made his club debut at prop in place of Mikolaj Oledzki, who is currently undergoing return-to-play protocols following a concussion sustained the previous weekend. Additionally, Jarrod O’Connor returned to the bench after recovering from an injury sustained on Boxing Day, joining Sam Lisone, Tom Holroyd, and Morgan Gannon as substitutes.
Following the approval of their new ownership earlier in the week, Salford fielded a completely revamped matchday 17, which included five former Leeds players.
What a show! Let's relive the action:
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The Coaches Assessment
Paul Rowley
Brad Arthur
The Final Word
The Red Devils showcased a noticeable lack of energy and cohesion, with the emotional toll of the past fortnight clearly affecting their performance. Although they began the match with promise, it quickly became evident that Salford was struggling significantly, akin to a Flintstones vehicle missing its wheels. Numerous errors, penalties, and a lack of positional discipline contributed to a day that will likely be forgotten. However, we can anticipate an improvement from Salford, as they possess too many quality players for this trend to continue.
For the Rhinos, this victory was particularly significant following their Round 1 loss to Wakefield Trinity. At times, they exhibited the characteristics of a playoff-caliber team, with Jake Connor orchestrating plays through skillful kicks, clever tricks, and precise passes that will leave Rhinos fans eager for more. While Connor demonstrated discipline, James Bentley, for the second consecutive week, struggled with indiscipline, accruing two penalties. Last season, Bentley appeared to be maturing and better managing his temper; however, it seems the old version of him has resurfaced. In contrast, Riley Lumb took full advantage of his opportunity, delivering a performance of remarkable stature and class for someone so young and inexperienced, thereby solidifying his claim to the right wing position for the remainder of the season.
The Gladiators who took the Field
Salford Red Devils
1 Ryan Brierley
3 Nene Macdonald
17 Esan Marsters
4 Tim Lafai
5 Deon Cross
6 Jayden Nikorima
7 Marc Sneyd
8 Brad Singleton
14 Chris Atkin
10 Chris Hill (D)
15 Shane Wright
12 Kallum Watkins
13 Joe Shorrocks
Subs (all used)
18 Jack Ormondroyd
19 Justin Sangaré
22 Matty Foster
23 Chris Hankinson
Try Scorer: Watkins (2)
Tale of the Boot: Sneyd 1/1
Naughty Boy: Shorrocks (38) – Sinbin or high shot on Brodie Croft
Leeds Rhinos
18 Jake Connor
23 Riley Lumb
4 Ash Handley
3 Harry Newman
5 Ryan Hall
6 Brodie Croft
7 Matt Frawley
10 Keenan Palasia
9 Andy Ackers
17 Cooper Jenkins
11 James Bentley
12 James McDonnell
13 Cameron Smith
Subs (all used)
14 Jarrod O’Connor
15 Sam Lisone
16 Morgan Gannon
19 Tom Holroyd
Try Scorers: Lumb (18, 33), Gannon (25), Handley (50), Bentley (60), Hall (72)
Tale of the Boot: Connor 4/8
HOW IT WENT DOWN: 6-0, 6-4, 6-10, 6-14, 6-16; 6-22, 6-26, 6-32
Man of the Match - The Super League Raw Trophy
3pts - Riley Lumb
2pts - Jake Connor
1pt - Morgan Gannon
Half-time: 6-16
Referee: Liam Moore
Attendance: 5,798
Key Performance Indicators:
Most Tackles – Kallum Watkins - 49
Top Tackle Busts – Nene MacDonald - 9
Most Carries – James Bentley & Keenan Palasia - 16
Most Metres - Nene MacDonald - 176
Hard Metre Maker – Tom Holroyd - 124
Most Clean Breaks – Nene MacDonald - 4
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