Leeds Rhinos v Warrington Wolves - Super League has yet to take off says Richard Agar

Leeds Rhinos boss Richard Agar reckons the new Betfred Super League season still hasn’t hit its stride.
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Rhinos play host to one of the title favourites, Warrington Wolves, on Friday in round five, but Agar insists it is still too early to draw any conclusions about how the season will go.

Huddersfield Giants, who like Leeds have a game in hand on some of their rivals, are the only unbeaten team, with just promoted Toronto Wolfpack yet to get off the mark.

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Rhinos began the round in fifth place, one ahead of Warrington - who have played a game more - on points difference.

Warrington's Gareth Widdop and Ben Currie tackle Wakefield Trinity's Adam Tangata, as Daryl Clark, right, looks on. Picture by Tony Johnson.Warrington's Gareth Widdop and Ben Currie tackle Wakefield Trinity's Adam Tangata, as Daryl Clark, right, looks on. Picture by Tony Johnson.
Warrington's Gareth Widdop and Ben Currie tackle Wakefield Trinity's Adam Tangata, as Daryl Clark, right, looks on. Picture by Tony Johnson.

Back-to-back wins over Hull KR and Salford Red Devils will send Rhinos into the game in buoyant mood, but Agar feels they - and every other team - are still developing as a side and getting to grips with the new campaign.

“It is a good challenge,” he said of the meeting with his former team.

“I have said all along we are still a relatively young team and we are still learning.

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“We are still learning about ourselves and working out what’s our best footy.

“When you look at the competition over the past four weeks, people are still finding their way.

“Nobody has really played outstanding football for three or four weeks on the trot.

“Teams have had some good halves and some bad halves.

“This is a terrific challenge for us and one we are looking forward to.”

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One thing Agar is sure of is Rhinos will have to play better than they did in the 22-8 win at Salford six days ago.

Rhinos conceded the first two tries and were 8-0 behind just before the break.

Agar admitted: “We didn’t think we were great in the first half last week, far from it.”

But he insisted they can take positives from the way they turned things around in the second 40.

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“While we weren’t going well, half-time was good for us,” he added.

“We re-set ourselves at half-time and we fixed up the way we were managing the game a bit and some of our defensive issues around the ruck.

“We definitely fixed up our shape out of yardage and we kicked the ball a lot better.

“To score three tries to none in the second half was good for us, against a good defensive team.

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“One win from four doesn’t show how competitive Salford are so I was pleased we showed a good mentality to get out of it, but we know we will have to be better this week against Warrington.

“Our first half defensive will need to be much better.”

Agar had a three-year spell as coach of Warrington, working under head of rugby Tony Smith, from 2015-2017.

The Wolves fell away after winning the Coral Challenge Cup last yerar, but England international Gareth Widdop has added a new dimension to their attack and they will be boosted by Chris Hill’s return from a three-match ban.

“They have got an exceptional squad and a deep squad,” Agar warned.

“They have a highly-decorated and effective spine.

“If you are loose around the ruck they will pick you off and Chris Hill coming back will help them, give them that size and solidity in the middle.

“They are a good team.”

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