New year, new Leeds Rhinos?

Delving too deep into pre-season performances has proven to be a fool's game over the years but Leeds' Boxing Day performance was certainly enough to generate optimism for supporters desperate to see the Rhinos return to the top.

An 18-16 victory over a newly promoted side was by no means a statement scoreline but context is key and Leeds' performance provided evidence that many of last year's issues had been rectified.

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The standout feature was their intensity in defence, a long-standing issue that had been heavily scrutinised for many years. Leeds' tempo of their own line was excellent, physically they dominated Wakefield and they repeatedly kept them inside their own half.

Individually, Mikolaj Oledzki looked in as good a physical condition as we've seen him in, a source of hope as he looks to rediscover his excellent form from 2022. Tom Holroyd, despite only playing a short stint, looked in good nick too, which is encouraging after his long layoff last year.

Keenan Palasia, a new recruit from the NRL, produced some thunderous tackles which will add to the hope that the defensive passiveness has gone. On the other hand, Cooper Jenkins carried strong.

As ever, further mitigation must be considered and they played a Wakefield side with less preparation after they returned to pre-season training later, and they also had a number of their senior forwards on the sidelines. But there was enough evidence to suggest Leeds are on their way to a better season.

Throw in an excellent Jake Connor performance, reinforcing the competition for places Brad Arthur has in his backline now, and the early indicators are positive.

It's early days and nobody will truly know where Leeds are at for several months yet. The acid test will be their ability to drag themselves back into contests when their backs are against the wall, something they were incapable of doing last year.

But the early signs are certainly positive. It goes without saying that Leeds cannot allow for another season of underachievement. Missing out on the play-offs two years running is unacceptable, a third, to many, would be unthinkable.

On the face of it, Leeds should improve. How far they can go remains unclear but when you factor in a promising end to last season, a solid recruitment drive and the early signs of progress in the off-season, a climb into the play-off certainly feels realistic.

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