Winger Tom Briscoe admits that Leeds Rhinos will have to play for 80 minutes or their play-off hopes are fading.
The statistics of Rhinos’ last two defeats, both to Catalans Dragons, tell their own story.
Four days ago they could not hold the 18: 8 half-time lead in the home game and the 18: 2 lead in the middle of the second leg.
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Tom Briscoe scores in Rhinos’ recent win at the Salford visitors this Friday. Image by Steve Riding.
From a strong position, Leeds failed to score in the second half of both games and conceded 18 and 25 points respectively.
In the pre-Catalan streak, Leeds led the Warrington Wolves 20-6 at halftime and only managed to hold their own in the last 40 with a 22-16 win.
Briscoe stressed that getting to grips with what’s going wrong will be a priority this week before the Salford Red Devils visit on Friday.
“I’m not sure what is really going to happen,” said Briscoe.
“Two weeks on the go, it was the same story.
“To play so well in the first half [last Friday] and then come out in the second half and collect 25 points, it was a gutting and something that we have to fix pretty hard. “
Rhinos played outstanding rugby in the opening stages of both games against the Catalans, scoring three tries each time.
They conceded only one penalty goal in the away game before the break and Briscoe, who bagged a brace and made an excellent attempt at rescue, added: “The first half was excellent in both weeks.
“The frustrating thing is that we can play so well and then play as we are in the second half, that’s not enough.”
Eleven players were unavailable to play in France, including three who were banned after pinging and tracing.
Striker Rhyse Martin, who was serving a one-game suspension, and King Vuniyayawa, unable to travel due to visa issues, will both be available to visit Salford on Friday, aged 38 since the Leeds win at the end of the year: Won 12 in a row last month.
However, Briscoe stressed that the number and quality of missing players in Perpignan was “no excuse”.
He emphasized: “The way we play in the first half shows that it’s not about who is not on the team.
“It’s hard to say, but if we want to get into the top six we have to sort it out.”
Rhinos, who occupy seventh place in the table, now have a win rate of 46.15 in the second half of their league season.
The last two losses have undermined some of the strides she made during her last four-game winning streak, and Briscoe said the team are aware they can’t afford to slip up many more.
Qualifying for the play-offs was the least the Rhinos expected this year, but Briscoe admitted: “Sixth place is getting further and further away.”
He stressed: “We have to put our heads down and find out why it happens in the second half and what we can do to change things and make sure our second-half performances are consistent with those of the first half.
“We have the confidence in the team that we can challenge anyone with and we showed that in both games in the first half.
“But coming out in the second half and admitting how we did it and allowing their big men to get rolling is not good enough.”
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