Grand Final winners will be true champs says Leeds Rhinos boss

The Leeds Rhinos boss insists the side who lift the Betfred Super League trophy at Hull’s KCOM Stadium in two weeks’ time will be true champions

Not every team played the same number of matches in the regular season, but Agar the path to silverware is even tougher this year.

“I think it is harder,” Agar - whose team face Catalans Dragons in an elimination play-off at Warrington’s HJ Stadium tonight - said.

“There’s a lot more to navigate than a normal season.

“I would not decry anyone who wins the comp.

“I think it has been a difficult one to manage and negotiate and the obstacles and dilemmas that have been thrown in the way are ones you wouldn’t get in a normal season.

“I wouldn’t put an asterisk in there - the team that wins the comp’ this year is the team that has navigated all the challenges that have come from this season the best.

“I don’t think - looking at the six - there’s too many elements of unfairness to it, I think whoever wins it will be very deserving winners.”

The play-offs format has been changed twice this year, from top-five to top-four and then - after the regular season was cut short - top-six.

Catalans finished fourth, one place above Rhinos on win percentage, after playing only 13 league matches - four fewer than the other play-offs teams.

“You can look at the imbalance in the fixture list if you like, but I’d say they have come up with a reasonably fair way at the end,” Agar added.

“If the top-five had been clear and played equal games I think that would have been fine, but Catalans could have been in a position where they weren’t going to get to 15 games [to qualify for the play-offs].

“Should that really rule them out of the play-offs, was it their fault, was that fair on them?

“No, they have had a lot of travel to navigate and I think it is a relatively fair way, with six teams in the play-offs.

“We’ve got six teams that are all capable of getting good performances out there.

“I think it’s potentially going to be a really good end to the season.

“There’s going to be some compelling fixtures and fingers crossed we stay as unscathed as we possibly can and get three really good rounds of football to finish what has been a difficult year.”

The French team have played just once in the past month, while Rhinos have been in action six times, but Agar stressed his men are refreshed and ready to go after 11 days without a fixture.

Their final two games of the regular season were cancelled and Agar - who is isolating and will not be at the ground tonight - conceded: “I have been so grateful for the week off for our boys.

“If we’d had to play Castleford and Wigan, which were our scheduled games coming in [to the play-offs], I am not sure what state we’d have been in.

“I think, given the schedule, we’d have been clinging on.”

Tonight will be the first time Leeds’ strongest side have faced Catalans this year.

Leeds’ trip to Perpignan was twice postponed because of coronavirus and Agar fielded a second string lineup when Catalans visited Emerald Headingley in September.

Rhinos’ youngsters put up a good show before being beaten 34-6, but Agar warned: “They have got some class players.

“It has been a difficult one for them, they have probably not had as many games as they would have liked during the run-in, but from what I have seen of them this year, when they’ve played their best football, I think they are a team capable of winning it.

“They have got some of the best players in the competition, some real class acts and dangermen in their team.

“They are a really strong outfit.”

Support the YEP and become a subscriber today. Enjoy unlimited access to local news and the latest on Leeds United, With a digital subscription, you see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Click here to subscribe.