United game will beat Covid-19 Leeds Rhinos coach says

Richard Agar. Picture by Jonathan Gawthorpe.

Rhinos have been kicking their heels since recording a fourth successive win, 66-12 at home to Toronto Wolf on March 5.

All rugby league was suspended on March 16 and two months on there is still no firm indication as to when the Betfred Super League will resume.

The government this week began easing lockdown restrictions and has indicated sport could be allowed to come back, behind closed doors, from the start of next month.

Agar is proud of the way his players have pulled together in "unbelievable" circumstances. Picture by Bruce Rollinson.

At a meeting on Thursday Super League clubs confirmed they are aiming to be ready to restart in “the summer” - with fans being allowed into stadiums “when it’s safe”.

The Championship and League One are also hoping to resume, though sone lower division coaches - including Hunslet’s Gary Thornton and Lee Greenwood of Dewsbury Rams - fear that may not be possible without matchday income.

A £16m government loan will keep clubs afloat in the short-term, but Agar reckons it will take a collective effort for rugby league to get through without casualties, which he says is the priority now.

Assessing the situation at what should be the midway point of the season, Agar admitted: “There’s a lot of uncertainty around the game at the moment - when we might get started and what the game will look like when we come out of it.”

Konrad Hurrell's try against Toronto was Rhinos' last action before rugby league was shut down. Picture by Jonathan Gawthorpe.

And he stressed: “We’re hoping the governing body and the clubs can get us through what is an unbelievable period as intact as we can and the game looks very similar to the one we left in March.

“Whether that’s the case or not, time will tell, but I think there’s a real collective spirit from everyone - players, administrators and fans - to do what it takes to get us going again and make sure we do come out of it and thrive when we manage to get back out there.”

One positive from the pandemic could be a reunification of the sport, two years after Super League split from the Rugby Football League.

“We all love the game as much as each other,” Agar noted. “We’ve all got different business models and will be affected in different ways when we come out of it, but there has always been a collective spirit in the game and an understanding we have got to look after each other in times like this.

“There’s a lot of hypothetics out there, but I have got a fair amount of trust in the people who are looking after the game at the moment and I think when we do get a bit more information there will be a real sensible and collective outcome.”

With mass gatherings still banned, Rhinos’ players - who have all been placed on furlough - are training alone.

Agar, also on paid leave, said he is “proud” of the way they have adapted to unique circumstances - and insisted he is managing to cope well with lockdown, “I am pretty good,” he reflected. “I am keeping busy and active, as much as I can.

“I am getting to see a little bit more of my children and spend a bit more time with them and I am keeping fit and well and healthy.”

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