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Phil Clarke says players don't forget it when they get embarrassed

 Luke Gale streaks away to score a try against Leeds.
Image: Memories of three months ago will fuel Friday's match

Can you remember what you were doing on 2nd March? It was a Thursday.

OK, I know it's 16 weeks ago and it went dark around tea time, but something very special happened.

It was the night that Castleford confirmed themselves as genuine contenders in 2017. They scored 12 tries against a highly-motivated Leeds outfit who looked as though they were chasing shadows.

It must have felt as though it was the end of the season not the start for the Rhinos supporters, who stood behind the goal posts and watched Luke Gale convert the tries, but as we all know, a season is a long time.

The Tigers have suffered their first major reverse in losing at Hull in the Challenge Cup and have to back that up at a ground where they've been brilliant in recent years, but may never have faced a more determined opponent. Players don't forget it when they get embarrassed and the best ensure it never happens twice in one year.

The Leeds players may tell you that this is just another game. I know that they've played against the Tigers in Newcastle, but this is different.

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Zak Hardaker was named man of the match against his former club as Castleford thrashed Leeds 66-10

The recovery of the Rhinos from that round three loss has been one of the most remarkable stories of the season. The efforts of Wakefield and Salford would normally make them the team of the year for their progress in 2017, had the Tigers not been re-shaping the way that the game is played, but the rehabilitation at Leeds is the fourth great story of this season.

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They've won 10 and lost four which shows that there's still room for improvement, but they're developing a unique style which could be the key to another season of silverware. I know only a little about music but they appear to me as though they're the rugby league equivalent of jazz improvisation when it comes to attacking their opponents.

It's composed on the spot, starts with a simple melody, the rhythm kicks in with multiple hands involved, there are several changes of direction and it all comes to a memorable conclusion. The drum solo that you hear is usually the one from the South stand as the supporters celebrate another score.

 Betfred Super League - Leeds Rhinos v Wakefield Trinity - Headingley Carnegie Stadium - Joel Moon
Image: Joel Moon leads Leeds' try-scoring with 13 so far this season

Leeds are unusual in that the top scorers for most teams are usually their wingers. Take the Tigers for example with their two widest players usually getting the glory for finishing off the chances. Six of the game's top 10 try scorers are wingers at present. However, Leeds do things differently as their most frequent try scorers are a stand-off, a hooker and a prop.

While other teams stick to a familiar rhythm the Leeds composer is happy for his players to improvise. It's impossible to predict how they will attack you as it's all done in a natural and unstructured way, but is it at the stage where it's good enough to beat the top of the table?

They currently lead the short list for try of the season so far and will be keen to avoid a third defeat of the year by a Castleford side whose own freewheeling style has been very successful, as the Betfred Super League table illustrates.

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It strikes me that Leeds have been trying to get more from their two wingers. When they won the treble in 2015 it was the work of their two wing men who very often started the try with a powerful kick return. They moved down field quickly and were soon walking back to their own half waiting for another re-start, watching as their goal kicker attempted to add another 2 points.

Back then Tom Briscoe ranked inside the top 10 outside backs when you simply measured the average metres he'd make in a game. At present, he's dropped to being just inside the top 50 and it is amazing what a huge role he and Hall have played in the club's success in previous years. In between them in 2015 was the man who will line up opposite them. Zak Hardaker is perhaps the player to stop the Rhinos' spontaneous scoring.

As we get towards Round 20 we start to think about contenders for the Man of Steel. Big performers in the big games stand out and what stood out for me last Sunday was the absence of Junior Moors for the Tigers.

The Man of the Match in Friday's game could well end up as the winner of the game's most prestigious individual award.

As for who comes out on top, well it depends if Leeds are 'In The Mood'. If they're not then we could hear the strains of 'Sweet Caroline' from the Castleford supporters but it should be one of the games of 'Summertime'.

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