The Yorkshire Post's rugby league writer James O'Brien looks ahead to Leeds Rhinos' 2025 campaign in Super League, picking out reasons for optimism, areas of concern, key players and a predicted finish
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00:00I think Brad Arthur is the big one, he's the big difference going into this season compared
00:17to this time last year when they had Rowan Smith. Like his uncle Tony, it was very relaxed
00:24at least, there was very little accountability and the players struggled with that. They
00:29had a passive defence under Rowan Smith as well, where they just let sides come to them
00:34rather than dictate in terms and I think that's where it'll be different this season for the
00:38Rhinos. I think they'll have more aggression, more intent under Brad Arthur. They'll take
00:44the fight to the opposition rather than waiting to get punched in the mouth before doing something.
00:49So I think that'll be the big difference. He's a no-nonsense Australian coach and I
00:56just think he'll change the mentality of the team and that'll make all the difference.
01:01We saw last year with Warrington, the impact that a coach can have when he comes in and
01:05transforms the mentality. Sam Burgess did it with Warrington, got them up to finish
01:08third and I think Brad Arthur can have similar impacts at least in his first full season.
01:18The depth of the squad, I'd say, is the one concern. They've already lost Mike Sivo at
01:24a star signing to an ACL. They've brought someone in from Australia, an unknown quantity
01:28who hasn't played a first grade game. Beyond the top 20 or so players, there's a lot of
01:36young talent, unproven talent and that's probably where he leads. If they keep the squad fit,
01:43they'll go very well but if they do get a lot of injuries, as they have done in previous
01:48years, then they might struggle.
01:54Brodie Croft is an obvious one, a former Man of Steel. He was very good last season
02:01in the poor team, came up with a lot of assists, was right up there in that column and that
02:08was behind a struggling pack as well who played on the back foot for a lot of the season.
02:12So if Leeds do show more aggression, more intent in the pack, I think they could lay
02:18a good platform or an even better platform for Croft to show that kind of form that won
02:25him the Man of Steel.
02:30I think I've alluded to this already but I think Leeds will finish third. I just think
02:35you can't keep them down for much longer, surely. It's been eight years now since the
02:41last finish in the top four, which you would have thought that's unthinkable around the
02:47time they were winning all those titles. I just think they've got a nice balance now,
02:52particularly in the back line with Harry Newman and Jake Connor in there. I never thought
02:57I'd see Jake Connor in a Leeds shirt but he's had a good start, a promising start and this
03:02could be the year when he finally comes into his own at a big club on the big stage. I'm
03:07tipping Leeds to finish third.