Wigan Warriors v Leeds Rhinos - Milestone man Ash Handley issues rallying call after St Helens drubbing

Handley insists Rhinos are desperate to make amends after being “way off” in their 48-0 drubbing by Saints.

“Saints put it to us and we didn’t have any answers,” Handley admitted. “We were quite poor in every aspect of the game and they outplayed us.

“We need to focus on what we can do to be better as a team – I don’t think we have got to grips with the new style of the game as of yet.

“It is down to us, we just need to look at ourselves and improve and improve quickly.”

Wigan are top of Betfred Super League and Handley - who will make his 100th appearance in the competition - stressed the behind closed doors game at St Helens is an ideal opportunity to bounce back.

“We need a big game and a big challenge again,” he said. “You’d rather put it right against a good team.

“We just need to turn it around and last week will be forgotten about if we can put a good performance on against Wigan. That’s just how it is, we need to forget about it, move on and build up confidence to go again.”

Tomorrow will be just Rhinos’ second game away from Headingley this year, but playing at St Helens suits Handley. He said: “It doesn’t really feel like Headingley at the moment anyway, when there’s no crowd and no atmosphere.

“I do like playing at Saints, it is a nice ground and I am looking forward to it. Hopefully, we can string a performance together, we need a full 80 minute performance.”

With Jack Walker and Richie Myler still unavailable, Handley is likely to continue at full-back tomorrow.

“The game wasn’t the best for me to play there,” he admitted of his shift as Leeds’ last line of defence against Saints.

“I think I played there maybe three or four years ago and that was the only other time. I do enjoy it, I like being involved at full-back, but I don’t think there was much I could really do.”

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