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On the night Leeds Rhinos came together as one to remember one of their all-time greats, they produced an occasion Rob Burrow would no doubt have relished.
Their annual motor neurone disease (MND) awareness fixture was once again an emotional occasion, spearheaded by the plentiful pre-match tributes to Burrow two years on from his passing. Leeds’s highest crowd since 2020 witnessed not just a fitting occasion, but another resounding statement about the Rhinos’ title credentials.
The 2017 Grand Final was both the last time Leeds won the Super League title and Burrow’s final match as a professional. There have been times in the nine years since where one of the competition’s biggest teams have felt like also-rans but this was another evening which put the rest on notice that Brad Arthur’s side are bona fide contenders.
Victory at Warrington last week in a meeting of the competition’s top two was eye-catching enough but this, a ruthless dismantling of the defending champions for the second time this season, was a clear reminder that Leeds are among the favourites for the title. They are two points clear at the summit and six clear of Hull KR after this one-sided win.
“We pushed it really heavy this week about being brave for Rob, and being brave for his family,” Arthur said post-match. “We were exactly that. We withstood some early pressure and pushed through it but I think we’ve got plenty left in us to improve too. We were brave for Rob.”
Rovers are rarely second best in every aspect of a game, but it has now happened twice this season against Leeds. The scoreline was not quite as emphatic as the 58-6 defeat the Robins endured in Las Vegas but it was every bit as crushing a reminder of how incredibly tough their quest for back-to-back titles is going to be.
Leeds were flawless for large patches, and with Jake Connor once again the star with another display that makes an England spot in the World Cup this autumn feel increasingly inevitable, they were far too strong.
They rode out a nervy and competitive opening half-hour in which only three goal kicks were scored, two of them by Connor to make it 4-2, to lead by 16 by the break.
How fitting that it was Leeds’ No 7, the number Burrow himself made famous, who starred here. His two assists for Chris Hankinson and Maika Sivo’s tries as half-time approached swung it firmly Leeds’s way and Connor took centre stage again after the restart to take the game emphatically away from the Robins.
Rhyse Martin being banished to the sin-bin for Hull KR pushed the door ajar further for Leeds and Connor took advantage with a clever kick that led to Sivo scoring his 27th Super League try of the season. The Fijian winger is now two clear of Lewis Martin’s tally of 25 for Hull FC last year which topped the charts; Denny Solomona’s all-time record of 40 in a season is now coming into view.
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That made it 24-2 and realistically, the Robins were already well beaten even with half an hour remaining. Rarely are they overwhelmed in this manner, but this was a chastening night for them, with the defending champions some way below the standards they set last year when they won the treble in such style.
“Last week we were similar but we got away with it last week,” their coach, Willie Peters, said. “We need to find out why it’s happening but I think it’s an individual thing. There was some fight and physicality about us but we’re playing against a very good team.”
Hull KR at least crossed for a try their effort merited through Noah Booth but two minutes later, Connor – who else? – capitalised on an error to score before the Leeds captain, Ash Handley, completed the victory by finishing off another wonderful team try. There is a long way to go, but on this form, Leeds may take some stopping.
Burrow’s courage as his MND progressed reminded us all that some things are simply more important than a game of rugby league. But goodness, how he would have delighted to witness Leeds once again positioning themselves among Super League’s best.
