t’s never boring at Headingley it would seem with Leeds Rhinos one of those clubs that is constantly abuzz with something happening and Ian Blease will be finding that out today as he sets about his new role. Much of that will include putting out fires as the club try and recover from the embarrassing defeat against Hull FC, whilst he will also begin a thorough review.
That’s something he told fans he would undertake when he spoke last week after his appointment was announced with the 59-year-old outlining what he would do in the early days of his new job.
He gave an explanation, saying, “I’ll be taking a little of time to strategize and think about what I want to accomplish because I don’t formally start until next Monday. Gary, the board, and I will be examining all aspects of rugby from an operational and Rhinos standpoint.
In addition, Blease addressed the Leeds Rhinos supporters, urging them to support the squad, something that hasn’t happened despite Saturday’s 18-10 loss, when cries of “We want Rohan out” echoed around the MKM.However, there are still three crucial things Blease needs to accomplish in his first week with the Leeds Rhinos, and we’ve broken down each one below.
What Ian Blease must do in his first week at Leeds Rhinos
The glaring problem at Leeds Rhinos is the disconnect between the fans and the coach with Rohan Smith seemingly teetering on the brink after a string of poor results.
On multiple occasions this season, the final whistle has been met with a chorus of boos whilst the chant of ‘We want Rohan out’ has almost become the club’s official anthem from a certain group of supporters. The problem is though that it is an ever-growing group of supporters and it could now reach a tipping point.
The sooner Blease decides what to do about Rohan Smith, the better. Support him in public in the hopes that it may allay skepticism, foster a feeling of solidarity between the supporters and the team, or end Smith’s time at Headingley.
If Blease goes with the second option, finding a suitable replacement will naturally become his top priority. However, since there aren’t many coaches out of job, this will be easier said than done. Brad Arthur is one such person who has allegedly indicated interest in becoming a Super League coach.Ian Blease must choose the path Leeds Rhinos go at this fork in the road. The fact that Smith is still employed at this time suggests he will
Leeds Rhinos have a number of players off contract at the end of the season but the most notable of those is Rhyse Martin with the Papua New Guinean second-rower among Super League’s most consistent performers.
He’s also the last home run signing that was made by the club which is damning considering he was signed in 2019, and that is one of the key reasons why Blease has been brought in – to provide better recruitment options.
Strengthen the Leeds Rhinos pack
Leeds Rhinos need a prop forward, they’re screaming out for size and power in the pack. Jon Wilkin assessed the game against Hull FC and labelled the Leeds pack as soft, claiming he’d be licking his lips to line up against them
The Rhinos need some size, and they need it sooner rather than later, if Wilkin, who is as smart at analyzing the game as he is, is thinking that. Opposing coaches throughout the Super League must be thinking the same thing.
Even though forward Sam Lisone is a premium player, he hasn’t translated well enough since joining the team prior to the season. Leeds lacks workhorses in their forward pack, especially in the props, so what they need is grit and more bodies.Among the Leeds Rhinos pack on Saturday, only Mikolaj Oledzki made it past 100 meters. Goudemand (43), Sangare (71), Holroyd (19), and Lisone (31) all failed to produce significant gains from their combined 25 carries.
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