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Matthew Shaw

Bonkers Leeds Rhinos make fans buckle up for enthralling journey into the unknown

The irony of Leeds Rhinos is that despite all the scrutiny thrust upon them, all the analysis of their progression and their performance, none of us know a thing about them. From week to week, you haven't a clue what they're going to do.

It runs deeper than just results. Performances are drastically contrasting, selection is often baffling yet genius. Even their recruitment is proving to be left-field.

The Rhinos are the great enigma, equally likely to produce a spellbinding display that gives their fans reason for hope as they are dishing up a performance that brings them back down to earth with an almighty thud.

Read more: Rohan Smith transcript after Leeds Rhinos thump Wigan Warriors

It's organised chaos and brilliantly bonkers. Love them or loath them, whether they drive you crazy or leave you euphoric, it's wonderful entertainment.

Their annihilation of Wigan Warriors was the best example yet. They were given no chance by most, no hope by many. They remained without a stack of key men; their two senior halfbacks and influential hooker to name but a few, and went up against a side that had won by 60 last week when they had lost to Super League's bottom side.

And yet they battered them. Absolutely thrashed them. A week after Wigan's biggest win of the season Leeds served them their biggest loss. The madness of it is that they had no right whatsoever to win. They had a fullback and a loose forward in the halves with two teenagers and a debutant on the bench. And it was against a Wigan team that has obliterated teams all year.

Rohan Smith seems to have settled things down but yet nothing suggests anything is settled at all. They have either won handsomely or lost ugly. The smallest margin of result since Smith arrived is 14 points.

This was his ninth game in charge and his sixth halfback combination. They've scored more than 40 points on three occasions but conceded more than 20 on five. It's absolute carnage but it's enthralling to watch.

You get the impression the fans have bought into the madness. The South Stand was rocking unlike it has since the Golden Generation days. Everyone knows that patience will be required as Smith constructs the Headingley rebuild but being able to enjoy the thrill of sheer brilliance of performances like this will at least temper the inevitable horror shows Leeds will put their fans through while Smith puts things right.

The good news is that there are some obvious improvements to cling to. The Rhinos remain one of the top-scoring teams in the league since Smtih arrived, compared to being the dead-set worst when he came in. Their new 'flat and fast' approach is not only effective but very entertaining. Certain individuals have shown marked improvement.

It remains a team undoubtedly flawed. It features players prone to the same mistakes and guilty of chronic inconsistency, a collective unit almost willingly capable of shooting itself in the foot at times, a group that will continue to have a bulk either injured or suspended.

And yet, as nights like Thursday prove, it's a team that has it in them to restore the great Headingley evenings of the past and provide hope that those glory days will soon be a regular occurrence. That, for now at least, is enough to give Leeds' supporters something to believe in again.

Read next

Leeds Rhinos player ratings as out-of-position stars shine against Wigan Warriors

Leeds Rhinos land highly-rated Wigan Warriors forward as Rohan Smith's rebuild continues

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