Leeds Rhinos coach Richard Agar relieved as squad comes through unscathed after Hull FC win

RELIEVED BOSS Richard Agar confirmed Leeds Rhinos came through last night’s 40-22 win over Hull with no major injury concerns.
Three-mendous: Winger Ash Handley scored a hat-trick in Leeds' win over Hull FC.  Picture Bruce RollinsonThree-mendous: Winger Ash Handley scored a hat-trick in Leeds' win over Hull FC.  Picture Bruce Rollinson
Three-mendous: Winger Ash Handley scored a hat-trick in Leeds' win over Hull FC. Picture Bruce Rollinson

The game is likely to be Rhinos’ final full scale hit out before the Coral Challenge Cup final against Salford Red Devils a week tomorrow.

Leeds have a Betfred Super League fixture at Warrington Wolves on Tuesday, but Agar plans to rest most - and possibly all - of his Wembley squad. Prop Ava Seumanufagai had a “tight hamstring” after the game, but Agar said: “We don’t think there’s any dramas there.”

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Alex Mellor is expected to be available for Wembley after missing last night’s game due to a rib problem.

Eye for the line: Jack Walker dives in for the Rhinos' first try.  Picture: Bruce RollinsonEye for the line: Jack Walker dives in for the Rhinos' first try.  Picture: Bruce Rollinson
Eye for the line: Jack Walker dives in for the Rhinos' first try. Picture: Bruce Rollinson

Rob Lui wasn’t risked against Hull due to “a couple of little knocks” and Agar said: “He has a bit of recovery to do, but at this stage we are not too concerned.

“We have got the boys in [today] for a late recovery. We obviously want to see if anything appears overnight, then we can start putting a line under this game and moving on to next week.”

One concern is a possible ‘crusher’ tackle by prop Tom Holroyd, which is likely to be studied by the RFL’s match review panel.

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Of last night’s effort, Agar said: “It wasn’t an 80- minute performance, but there were some patches in there.

“We got off to a poor start, but I thought for the last 20 minutes of the first half and the first 15 of the second we controlled it really well.

“We had another period when it got away from us a bit and I think we’ve got to put it into perspective.

“We had a five-day turnaround on the back of a big, emotional win and there was a bit of anxiety among the group - I have to pick a team for a Challenge Cup final and we had a game to negotiate without picking an injury up opr a judiciary appearance.

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“We’ve also had a Covid scare and we only found out the opposition at 9.30 last night. Does it surprise me it wasn’t as clinical and as fluid as we’d have liked?

“Not in the slightest and some of that was down to our opponents. I am just pleased we got through it and pleased we got the two points, given all the circumstances.”

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