A year under Richard Agar has lifted Leeds Rhinos – Kevin Sinfield says

Dave Furner was axed a year ago today, six months and 15 competitive games into a three-year contract.

Agar, who had stepped into an assistant-coaching role the previous month following James Lowes’ departure, was appointed interim-boss, with the position being made permanent last autumn.

Though Rhinos lost a Coral Challenge Cup tie at Championship side Bradford Bulls in Agar’s first game and were beaten by Castleford Tigers the following week, performances and results picked up through the second half of 2019.

Having been 10th in Super League following Furner’s final match in charge, a 28-16 loss at Salford Red Devils on May 3, Leeds climbed to an eventual seventh-placed finish. Rhinos were on a four-game winning run – and sitting third in the table – when Betfred Super League was suspended in mid-March, owing to coronavirus.

Agar coached at York City Knights, Hull, Wakefield Trinity and Warrington Wolves before joining Leeds.

“He is highly-sought after and he has got as much rugby league knowledge as I have ever come across,” Sinfield said of Leeds’ ninth Super League head coach.

“He is smart, articulate and a great man-manager and the big thing we needed was somebody who was going to teach and coach.

“He does that every single day; it’s the big he thrives on.”

Of the duo’s personal relationship, Sinfield said “I think we make a pretty good team.

“There is a criticism of Richard and some of the work he has done in the past and I think that’s massively unfair.

“It’s not a reason not to give someone an opportunity. I think he is the right guy; there weren’t 100 names out there, but what we were able to do with Richard – which he was really keen to be part of – was almost try and test it last year, which we did.

“Although we had some difficulties at the start, I think the performances at the back end of the year showed the lads really wanted to play for him. I really enjoyed working with him, I believe in him and think he has got some really good qualities.

“I thought he was the right guy and fully deserved his chance.”

Sinfield feels clear progress has been made over the past 12 months. He added: “Philosophically we are aligned and the players have certainly responded.

“He did an excellent job throughout pre-season and a really good job with the team at the start of the year.

“He has got some really good ideas and he is a brilliant grass coach. He absolutely thrives when he is out on the field, you can see his enthusiasm for it and he has done a really good job.”

Sinfield insisted credit should go to all the rugby staff, stressing: “It was a really difficult period at the start of last year, for everybody involved and I think that had probably gone on for some time. There were some difficulties, but I think now we are in a good place – though we are still some way off where we want to be.

“We are building and going in the right direction and it never was going to be an easy fix.

“Right at the outset I asked for some patience and a bit of belief in us and certainly we are moving forwards together.”

At the time Agar was appointed, Rhinos had lost 10 of their 14 Betfred Super League games, having scored 309 points and conceded 375.

Leeds won eight of their remaining 15 league matches, scoring 375 points and conceding 297. The average of almost 27 points per league game conceded during the first half of the year was reduced to a shade under 20.

This year, Rhinos were thrashed 30-4 by visitors Hull in round one, but scored 176 points and conceded only 30 in their subsequent winning run – making Agar’s overall league record 12 wins from 20 games.

“I remember coming away from the first game of this season being massively disappointed,” Sinfield admitted.

“It wasn’t a reflection of the work done in the off-season, the work done last year or the way we ended last year. Thankfully, the four performances we put in after that were massively different.

“And, hopefully, represent us in a better way and show what we’ll be about when we get back playing.”

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