Leeds Rhinos coach Richard Agar accepts Covid blow ahead of Super League play-offs showdown with Catalans Dragons

Agar and Jones-Buchanan have been isolating since a member of Rhinos’ backroom staff tested positive for Covid-19 last week. The coach will watch the elimination play-off against Catalans Dragons, at Warrington’s HJ Stadium, from home and have an open phone line to assistant-coaches James Webster and Sean Long via director of rugby Kevin Sinfield.

It is the first time in his coaching career Agar has been absent on a match day, but he insisted: “I would rather it is me down than a player.”

He said: “I have been part of what the boys have seen in preview and the tactical information and I have spoken to all the boys individually.

“I can still have my input, but a player can’t unless he is out there on the field.

“It is better happening to me and Jonesy than a couple of players missing out on what is going to be a big game and a great experience for them.

“They will pull together.”

Agar has asked Rhinos’ senior leadership players to take extra responsibility this week and he added: “The days of Churchillan speeches, banging your hand on the table and all that, are probably few and far between these days.

“Quite often, rather than me deliver a [pre-match] speech, we will go around the room and ask the players to talk about what’s important that day, what their roles are and what’s required from us as a team.

“It won’t be too alien for them.”

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