Leeds Rhinos ready for 'more tough games, more often' as Women's Super League Grand Final race heats up
Leeds Rhinos are ready for “more tough games, more often” when Betfred Women’s Super League resumes this weekend after a month-long break.
Rhinos emerged from the first part of the season - when they played their seven rivals once - in second place, their only defeat coming away to champions Wigan Warriors in round one. The competition has now split with the top four facing each other home and away in extended play-offs.
Leeds begin that campaign against York Valkyrie at AMT Headingley on Saturday (2pm). They visit St Helens seven days later, then travel to York on Sunday, August 23 as a curtain-raiser to the men’s Super League clash between the same clubs.
Rhinos have back-to-back fixtures with Wigan - away on Saturday, August 29 and in a women’s/men’s double-header at Headingley seven days later - before finishing at home to Saints on Saturday, September 12.
The league leaders go straight through to the Grand Final and sides in second and third play off for the remaining spot. It is week to week rugby against the best sides and Rhinos coach Lois Forsell insisted: “More tough games more often is what we want.”
She said: “We are looking forward to it and to challenging ourselves. It’s going to be tough, there’s going to be a tough game every single week and you’ve got to be at your best, but that’s what we are here for. We want to perform and that’s the challenge. It’s one we are definitely excited about.”
Forsell feels Rhinos are in good shape after the mid-season break. “As a group - staff and players - I feel we all needed to hit reset and be ready to go again,” she stated. “The games will come thick and fast and the girls needed to make sure they could refocus, get a bit of energy back and be ready to go.
“Seeing how we trained on Tuesday, we were really impressed. It has definitely done the trick and we are excited to get back at home this weekend.”
Seven Rhinos players were on international duty during the break - including five for England against France in Toulouse - but Forsell stressed her squad are “relatively fresh and fit”. Kaiya Glynn picked up a “knee niggle” playing for Scotland against Canada, though the injury isn’t believed to be long-term.