Leeds Rhinos boss Brad Arthur makes 'stick at it' plea to refs as he identifies key to a 'better game'
Leeds Rhinos boss Brad Arthur has urged referees to hold their nerve as they crack down on ‘messing around’ at the ruck.
Match officials are set to be stricter this year on tactics to slow down the tackle and prevent quick play-the-balls. Arthur has welcomed a more hardline approach and reckons tidier, faster rucks will make the sport better spectacle - even if there’s some short-term pain.
There were 13 penalties and a similar number of set-restarts when Rhinos played Wakefield Trinity on Boxing Day. Last Sunday’s second pre-season game, at Castleford Tigers, again produced 13 penalties, plus six set-restarts.
Arthur believes a faster ruck is the way forward and the key to making rugby league a more entertaining spectacle. He said: “We’re hoping the referees stick at it. We had an opportunity on Boxing Day to experience that and if they can continue to go down the same path I think it will make for a better product and a better game.”
Arthur insisted: “More people are going to watch it and it’ll grow more revenue - that’s how you grow the game. Everything’s about money, you need more money to grow the game, to put back in the game. I hope the Super League and refs stay strong.”
There’s inevitably a flurry of penalties in the early days of any crackdown and Arthur encouraged fans to “be patient with it”. He said: “They are going to get a bit wrong, there might be some inconsistency early in the piece, but we’ve got to stick it out because I feel like it’s better for the game as a whole.”
Rhinos play their final warm-up match on Saturday when Bradford Bulls visit AMT Headingley for Cameron Smith’s testimonial. Bulls are back in Betfred Super League for the first time since 2014 as the competition expands from 12 to 14 clubs.
The increase means teams will play each other home and away, with an additional fixture at Magic Weekend and Arthur has given the expanded competition his backing. “It’s probably fairer in terms of home and away fixtures,” he stated.
“That’s probably better for the competition, in my eyes. There’s maybe some talk about ‘is there enough quality players around to fill all the teams’?, but I am for the idea of having an extra couple of teams in.
“The only way guys get experience is by actually playing. You can train as much as you like - it is the same as our young blokes, they only get experience if you put them out there. They aren’t going to get better by playing reserve grade every week. It might take a few teething problems early in the piece to strengthen the competition, but I think eventually the comp will be better for it.”
Arthur is set to field his strongest-available side against Bulls, though game time for some senior men may be limited and younger players will get an opportunity late in the game. Rhinos’ competitive season begins two weeks later with a Betfred Challenge Cup third round tie at either Thatto Heath Crusaders or Widnes Vikings.