Leeds Knights coach Ryan Aldridge keen for players to 'step up' for Hull Seahawks derby clash
ACCORDING to head coach Ryan Aldridge, Leeds Knights’ unbeaten run had been coming for some time. Now, it is all about the response.
After an opening weekend left them empty-handed following defeats to Telford Tigers and Peterborough Phantoms, the Knights embarked on an impressive nine-game winning run - the kind that has propelled them to three straight NIHL National league titles and left them nicely tucked in second spot behind early-season leaders Swindon Wildcats.
Sunday saw them brought crashing back down to earth when they lost 6-2 at home to Sheffield Steeldogs - understandably jubilant at finally getting the better of their Yorkshire rivals for the first time in a competitive fixture since February 2023.
Aldridge felt his players got what they deserved, the only surprise to him being that it took as long as it did.
“I think some of our players had off nights and that has to be expected,” said Aldridge. “We’ve won some games that maybe we shouldn’t have done in the past couple of weeks or so and I believe that loss was coming for a while.
“But I know there is more to come from these guys in this locker room, I believe they have more to give and I want to start seeing that.
“And I think as a group they want to start seeing it, too. I think they also recognise it. We just need to find a way to be better as a group.
“Guys have got to come every night, they can’t take nights off here and I feel like that’s what we’re getting right now.
“Some people are perhaps not understanding what their role and responsibilities are on the team and they’ve got to do that in order for us to be successful.
“There are a lot of different roles to play and we need people to step up and play them.”
Aldridge is still without experienced defencemen Jordan Griffin and Lewis Baldwin, while young forward Danny Harrison is also sidelined through injury.
Thursday night sees the Knights attempt to bounce back quickly from Sunday’s defeat with another derby battle on home ice, this time an in-form Hull Seahawks paying their first visit of the season to The Castle.
Aldridge expects to encounter a confident Seahawks team, who arrive on the back of a three-game winning run.
“They always come into our building full of beans, so this time is going to be no different,” added Aldridge.
“They’ve won three on the bounce, they’re obviously playing well and will be full of confidence.
“They are a deep line-up this year, they’ve got good offence - their firepower is probably one of the strongest in the league.
“We’ve just got to make sure we’re better than we were on Sunday and be ready for them.”