As bad as it gets - how Leeds Rhinos bounced back from Bradford Bulls debacle

That was Richard Agar’s verdict a year ago today, after his first game as Leeds Rhinos’ interim-coach.

Appointed just four days earlier, Agar saw his Super League outfit dumped out of the Coral Challenge Cup 24-22 by lower division neighbours Bradford Bulls on May 11, 2019.

In front of a 10,000 crowd at Odsal and a live BBC television audience, it was Rhinos lowest point since summer rugby began in 1996 and one of the most embarrassing results in the club’s history.

Agar had been Rhinos’ assistant-coach for only a month when Dave Furner was axed and he was asked to take over, initially on a caretaker basis.

With so little time to prepare, nobody blamed Agar for the disaster at Odsal, but it certainly illustrated the size of the task at hand. The Cup exit was Leeds’ 11th defeat in 16 competitive games during 2019 and Agar admitted: “We probably got what we deserved.

“Turning the ball over on last plays without asking too many questions and competing on last plays is just criminal and not up to standard.”

Even in poor league form, Leeds should have been capable of seeing off Bradford, who were a mid-table side in the Betfred Championship, but they made far too many errors in a disinterested performance.

Rhinos scored first through Tui Lolohea and, though Dalton Grant responded almost immediately, youngster Callum McClelland’s touchdown and a second Liam Sutcliffe conversion made it 12-4 after just 13 minutes.

Rhinos then collapsed and were 22-14 down at the break. Jake Webster, ex-Leeds forward Sam Hallas and Mikey Wood all crossed for Bulls and Rowan Milnes kicked two conversions and a penalty.

Sutcliffe booted a penalty just before the break and Harry Newman went over for a touchdown before Milnes added another Bulls two-pointer.

Tom Briscoe scored Leeds’ fourth try seven minutes from time, but Sutcliffe’s conversion attempt hit a post and Bulls held on.

Agar was right when he described that defeat as being “as bad as it gets”. Since then, though they lost to Castleford Tigers in the new boss’ first Super League game just five days later, Rhinos have been on an upward curve.

Relegation looked a real possibility following the Cup exit, but Rhinos climbed to finish eighth, four points above the drop zone.

After a poor start to this season, when they were crushed 30-4 at home in round one, Rhinos won their next four matches and were third in the table when coronavirus brought the competition to a halt.

One thing Agar picked up on from the Cup loss was his teammates’ largely indifferent reaction when Callum Mclelland scored his first senior try.

While personnel have changed - five of the Odsal line-up are no longer at Leeds and another is out on season-long loan - attitude has been at the heart of Rhinos’ improved form.

Agar has worked hard on team spirit and Rhinos’ defence has also got significantly better. Leeds had conceded 24 or more points in 10 of their 15 games before they visited Odsal and only six times in 20 competitive matches since.

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