It is at such moments, in the final game of a demanding period which involves playing three times in eight days, that one may learn most about a side. However, in a week which has featured criticism aplenty from coaches and players alike, the most obvious lesson of all was how it is perhaps more important to seek out quality, rather than quantity, if the sport is indeed to undergo a restructuring this winter.
For those arguing that the sport’s stars are playing too often, this was the ideal night to press home their case. If any of the Rugby Football League came along to watch a game which featured almost as many penalties as points, they would have surely found it hard to disagree. One double-header weekend over Easter is congestion enough but another – squeezed in to allow an England pre-season training camp in Dubai which never actually happened – is clearly too much of a strain.
“I’m pleased we won and it’s obvious some things in offence weren’t right but what do you expect? It’s three games in eight days,” said the Leeds coach, Brian McDermott. “Where we are now is crazy. It just doesn’t work. Rugby league is one of the hardest sports in the world.”
Whether schedules with two such weekends in six weeks continue into 2018 is unconfirmed but on this evidence a sport which prides itself on the quality and entertainment it so often provides is being cruelly let down by congestion in the calendar.
There were some positives for both sides. For Leeds there was the response from Monday’s defeat by Widnes with two hard-earned points strengthening their place in the top four as the final rounds of the regular season approach. An eight-day break before their next fixture will feel like a pre-season now.
Leigh arrived buoyed by their first Super League victory in more than two months last weekend and with quiet confidence that they could become only the second team to win at Headingley this year. Amid the conjecture they produced a heartening display which will give their fans hope they can yet avoid the Qualifiers and a battle against relegation this summer.
Both sides played their part in the first half but inevitably fatigue took its toll after the break. That there were 26 penalties did little to improve the occasion, with James Child’s whistle contributing to a lacklustre second half.
The sin-binning of Antoni Maria two minutes after half-time allowed Leeds to improve their four-point half-time lead to 16-10 and after a sustained period of pressure on the Centurions’ line, the hosts further increased their advantage when Danny McGuire kicked through for Adam Cuthbertson to touch down.
Leeds had further opportunities to kill the game but their attack had the look of a side who had been pushed through the rigours of three games in a week. Fortunately for the hosts, Cory Paterson’s late try was no more than consolation for the Centurions, who had fought valiantly throughout.
Leeds Sutcliffe; Briscoe, Watkins, Moon, Hall; McGuire, Burrow; Singleton, Parcell, Garbutt, Ferres, Jones-Buchanan, Cuthbertson. Interchange Galloway, Ablett, Mullally, Handley.
Tries Cuthbertson 2, Briscoe, Moon Goals Sutcliffe 3.
Leigh McNally; Naughton, Brown, Fleming, Dawson; Hampshire, Drinkwater; Acton, Hood, Weston, Vea, Paterson, Burr. Interchange Pelissier, Tickle, Maria, Hopkins.
Tries Dawson 2, Paterson Goal Drinkwater.
Referee J Child Attendance 13,445
