Leeds Rhinos boss makes 'we let people down' admission with 'response' promised v Warrington Wolves
Boss Brad Arthur has told Leeds Rhinos’ fans “we let you down and we won’t do it again”.
Rhinos go into tomorrow’s (Sunday) visit of Warrington Wolves on the back of successive Betfred Challenge Cup and Super League defeats, including a 24-16 loss at Hull FC last week. Arthur described that ill-disciplined performance as “embarrassing”, but said he was pleased with the response at training and backed his men to bounce back on Sunday against one of the competition’s in-form teams.
“We are very embarrassed, we know we let a lot of people down, no one more than ourselves,” Arthur said. “I can guarantee and assure you it won’t happen again.”
Rhinos have apologised to the referees’ department for the number of dissent penalties conceded last week and Arthur is confident there will be no repeat on what is a significant afternoon for the competition. It comes exactly 30 years after Super League’s inaugural match when Paris St Germain beat Sheffield Eagles in the French capital. Leeds began the new era with a 22-18 loss to Warrington at Headingley two days later.
“We are proud and privileged to be part of Sunday,” Arthur insisted. “We have got an opportunity and we need to make the most of it. Our fans are probably hurting from last week and so are we. There’s only one thing we can do about it and that’s our response come Sunday. The players have been good this week, ever since I have been here they’ve been able to handle the accountability and keep each other accountable. They are getting better and better at that.
“When we talk about attitude, it doesn’t mean effort. There was no lack of effort or desire or want to win last week, it was just our attitude to the performance and a few things that happened around it that was unlike us.”
Arthur admitted he has been “firm” with his troops this week and added: “They’ve been really good with their response. If we are doing it consistently it’s a different story, but it [last week] was a one-off and I am going to make sure it’s a one-off. At the end of the day our performances and responsibility for performances stop and start with me so I need to own that. I am sure you won’t see it again.”
Rhinos are likely to be punished if they do have another off day. Warrington, who have a game in hand, have won their four league matches so far, are through to the quarter-finals of the Challenge Cup and coming off the back of a 72-6 thrashing of Castleford Tigers last Saturday.
“They are playing with a lot of confidence and playing nice and tough,” Arthur observed. “Our boys are well aware of it and I am well aware of it, but it’s more around playing the style of footy we want to play and what works for us. The choices we make around our game and our attitude towards it is our main priority at the minute.”