Wembley-bound Leeds Rhinos will be full on against Castleford Tigers says wing star

The derby comes nine days before Rhinos’ Coral Challenge Cup final date with Salford Red Devil and Handley said the players will be treating it like every other game.

“We had a great performance against Wigan,” he said of Leeds’ 26-12 semi-final win last weekend.

“We want to keep building the momentum going forward for the final and just try and back up that performance with another good one against Cas on Thursday.”

Rhinos have won four of their last five games, the exception being when a fringe team lost to Catalans Dragons three days before the semi-final.

“We want to get a good win under our belt before [the final] and we will do our best to get that,” Handley added.

“It is always tough against Cas; they are a great team, no matter who’s playing and we always have good games against them.

“They will be up for it, but so will we. We are looking forward to it.”

Rhinos have slipped a place to fifth in Betfred Super League, behind Catalans Dragons.

Both teams have 14 points from 11 games and a win percentage of 63.64, but Catalans have a better for and against.

With Leeds likely to field their second string at Warrington Wolves next week - on the Wednesday before the Cup final - that makes victory on Thursday all-the-more important. Handley said: “Obviously at this moment the Cup final is probably more of a priority but, once that has gone, we want to cement our place in the top-four and challenge for the Grand Final as well.”

Handley’s finishing will be crucial if Rhinos are to do that.

The 24-year-old Oulton Raiders product scored a brace of tries in the semi-final which took his tally for the season to 12 in 13 games, but he insisted: “I am just doing my bit for the team. It is more about my work out of back field rather than dotting the ball over the line for me, but I am pretty happy with how I am going and I just want to keep improving and being consistent in my performances.”

Handley made his Leeds debut in 2014 - when a makeshift side lost at London Broncos a week before Rhinos’ Wembley win over Castleford - and has never played in a major final.

He scored 13 tries in 20 appearances in 2015, but Tom Briscoe and Ryan Hall got the nod on the wings for both finals that season and again two years later when Rhinos beat Tigers at Old Trafford.

Handley has played for England Knights and in a World Club Challenge, but the Cup final will be the biggest game of his career.

He recalled: “I was just on the end of the golden era and I was involved in being a part of that team at the back end in 2015 and the Grand Final in 2017 so I have had a little taste, but I’ll be able to experience it first hand this time. In 2015 I travelled with all the sponsors and families, but it was a great day and a great experience, to go down the day before, watch the game and obviously celebrate with the lads after.”

Next week’s decider will be played behind closed doors, making it a unique final in the competition’s 123-year history.

“It won’t be the same,” Handley admitted. “We can’t have our fans down there and our friends and family to watch us, but they will be watching on the telly at home and we will feel their support even though they won’t be there in person.

“We will just have to deal with it, like we have everything else this year. We will bring our own atmosphere and, hopefully, we can get the win and celebrate in a Covid-friendly way afterwards.”

Handley confirmed he has received a £250 fine for celebrating in a recent game.

The Rugby Football League (RFL) launched a crackdown last month in a bid to reduce the spread of coronavirus among players.An RFL spokesman said: “For more than a month, a system of fines has been in operation to seek to ensure greater compliance with the Covid protocols that were introduced for the resumption of the Betfred Super League season in August.

“These build on the initial and continued education regarding the importance of limiting all unnecessary contact - to limit the risk of transmission of Covid and also to mitigate the risk of any individual being deemed to be a ‘close contact’ of anyone who does subsequently test positive under test and trace.

“Any such close contact would have to isolate for 14 days which in turn could have a significant impact on the ability of teams to fulfil fixtures and for the season to be completed.

“After an initial flurry of fines and suspended fines when the new policy was introduced, there has been a significant improvement in compliance – players and other individuals recognising that try celebrations, or similar, provide a high risk of face to face contact which would lead to players being stood down on test and trace analysis and amending their celebrations and reducing close face to face contact in other ways during training and matches.

“The fining system has evolved further in the last 10 days in response to feedback.

“The RFL would like to place on record our appreciation to the players and clubs for the improvement in behaviour over recent weeks.”

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