Leeds Rhinos’ Defensive Woes Highlighted by Sky Sports Pundit Jon Wilkin
Leeds, England – Sky Sports pundit Jon Wilkin has heavily criticized Leeds Rhinos’ defensive gameplan after their 40-10 hammering by St Helens. The defeat marked the second successive heavy loss for Rohan Smith’s side, who were also nilled by Catalans Dragons in their previous outing.
Wilkin, a former St Helens captain, argued that Leeds’ “passive” defensive approach is the root cause of their recent struggles. He pointed to the concerning statistic of the team conceding nearly 1,900 run metres, which he claimed is a “surefire sign” that a team will struggle to win games.
“It’s just an incredibly passive way to defend. They bend but they don’t break. They’re obsessed with line breaks. The optics of it aren’t shocking, but it’s passive,” Wilkin said in his pre-match analysis on Sky Sports.
The pundit further elaborated that Leeds’ high number of missed tackles (45 compared to St Helens’ 20) and poor completion rate (68%) were direct consequences of their defensive system, which he believes is intentionally implemented by coach Rohan Smith.
“They’re being told ‘Don’t concede line breaks because line breaks mean point’, well I’m telling them that conceding metres means losing games,” Wilkin asserted.
The heavy defeat was Leeds Rhinos’ fourth loss in their last six games, with their only two wins coming against 12th and 11th-placed London Broncos and Hull FC. This poor run of form has led to growing calls for Rohan Smith to depart his post, with former Super League match official Richard Silverwood pleading for the club to take action.
As Leeds Rhinos prepare to face third-bottom Castleford Tigers next week, Wilkin’s analysis and the team’s recent performances have raised significant concerns about their ability to make the playoffs. The Rhinos will need to find a new defensive system if they are to turn their season around and challenge for the top spots.
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