Leeds Rhinos boss backs refs & tips Leigh Leopards as 'team to beat' ahead of Super League opener
Leeds Rhinos boss Brad Arthur has called on fans, players and coaches to support referees as they attempt to speed up the ruck this season.
Referees have pledged to be stricter in clamping down on spoiling tactics and, while it could mean a spate of penalties early in the campaign, Arthur reckons that is a step forward for Betfred Super League. “The referees have been very clear and they’ve been consistent with it,” he said ahead of Leeds’ round one fixture at Leigh Leopards on Friday.
“It’s not a rule change, all they are doing is policing the ruck properly. If a man makes a strong carry and finds his front, you shouldn’t be able to drag him sideways or blokes pile on top of him. That’s not the game. All they are doing is reffing the game the way it should be reffed.
“I think they are doing a good job and it’s our job as coaches and players and supporters of the game to get on board with it. There might be a couple of teething problems throughout the first couple of rounds, but the only way we are going to see it out is if we are supportive of it and we all back it and get on board with it.”
Rhinos will be without nine of their full-time squad, including five of the first-choice 13, for round one, but Arthur feels his side are better prepared than they were a year ago. He said: “The proof will be in the pudding on Friday night; we are down a few troops, but there’s no reason why we can’t go there and play the style of footy we want to play and believe strongly in.
“Our young guys have really bought into it and what they need to do and the position and role they have to play in the team. I think 12 months down the track, they are more equipped to be able to do it. You can see a lot of our senior players are a lot more comfortable and confident in these guys stepping in. They back them and believe in them and that’s a massive help.
“I feel like our core group of senior players now really drive the standard and do a lot of coaching on the run and take a lot of ownership of giving experiences to those young guys and a lot of advice. I am really grateful to our senior players for that.”
Rhinos have become notoriously slow starters in the Super League, having lost seven of their past 10 round one fixtures and Arthur admitted victory at Leigh would be “really good for the young guys”. He said: “Winning builds confidence. You want to start with a winning mentality, but the bigger priority for us is the type of performance we put in, one we are proud of and worthy of being recognised as a threat in the competition.
“Every team is going to have to face [injuries] and go through it at some stage in the year. It won’t be the last time we have to go through it. You have to call on the depth in your squad and that’s the test for us this week. It’s an opportunity to show we’ve got good depth in the squad.”
Leigh finished third in last year’s table, one place and three points ahead of Rhinos, who have won the sides’ last four meetings. “I’ve watched a couple of their games and they are a big, powerful team that looks well-drilled,” Arthur warned.
“They are very much like how they played last year, they’ve still got the same threats and they’ve got a good consistency around their team. They just look like they know what they are doing so we know we are in for a good contest. It is a great way for us to start and test ourselves. They are a good side and one of the teams to beat this year.”