Leeds Rhinos boss Rohan Smith reveals players’ sadness after unfortunate defeat by Hull FC

Asked if some of his players might have been affected by emotions after Burrow’s death, Smith said: “Emotions are a difficult thing: you can’t measure where people are individually. Some people didn’t know Rob, but they admired him for what he did on and off the field and for his battles.

“Others were very close to him and for everyone who has lost people they are close to, it takes an emotional toll. “Sometimes you really benefit from it, but we’ll never know what impact it has. It was hard for them; they treasured their time with him and I’m sure they wish they could have won for him today. “We have an opportunity to reset and we’re looking forward to next week, which will be a special occasion and a good opportunity to fight back.”

But Leeds was a mess. Mistake after mistake, lack of cohesion and little quality in attack, they looked like a team that just met on the M62 on the road. dozen defeats. They remain the only party standing up to London’s basement dwellers.

But they didn’t even have to be half-decent to explode past the gloomy rhinos in the pouring rain. Both sides made a catalog of errors in a shaky first half. Hull, however, raced out to a 12-0 lead and never looked back.

Jake Trueman smuggled in a long pass for teenager Lewis Martin to pounce on 36 minutes. And with the final play of the innings, young prostitute Denive Balmforth exposed the horrendous goal line defense to slot into second. Ben Reynolds converted both and when Leeds center Paul Momirovski was penalized for swearing, Hull struck again in the 45th minute.

Carlos Tuimavave, returning from a three-month layoff, slipped Ash Handley and took Cam Scott. The visitors at least escaped a point when Handley pounced on Brodie Croft in the 55th minute. When Tom Briscoe was sent off for a professional foul in the 71st minute, Harry Newman also crossed, Rhyse Martin scored.

But it was too little too late. Hull interim head coach Simon Grix finally got his first win and said: “The main feeling is relief. The losses weren’t for lack of trying, but it’s nice to win. It is very big for boys.

“Two wins from 14 rounds, we’ve got a long way to go to be the team we want to be, but those baby steps will get us closer. The rest of the season is about a week at a time. There’s a lot of change in course and the challenge was put “A brighter future is coming Do you want to be a part of it?”