YEP rugby league writer Peter Smith reflects on Leeds Rhinos' home loss to Hull KR in Brad Arthur's first game as coach.
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00Brad Arthur's career as Leeds Ranners head coach has begun with a defeat, a disappointing one, 20 points to 12 to Hull KR here at Headingley.
00:10There were some positive signs from Leeds who I thought played well in the first half and deserved to be 6-0 up at half time.
00:16Should probably have been further in front and they certainly should have been further in front at the start of the second period when they missed a chance a few minutes in which would have taken them 10-0 ahead with a kick to come.
00:26But then from that they conceded immediately and then let another try in soon afterwards and they were always chasing the game after that.
00:36They did it pretty well, they hung in there, created some pressure thanks to a run of penalties, didn't do much with them unfortunately but then managed to get back in the game and in fact back in front with 10 minutes left.
00:49Their second try of the game, both tries coming from errors by Hull KR on the map for all these kicks.
00:55When Leeds were two points ahead with 10 to go they should really have been able to hold on and win it but errors crept in and they conceded a couple of late tries, two tries in the last four minutes both from Leeds errors and Hull KR came away with what for them is a very good win.
01:11I thought they defended really well and Michael Lewis was excellent for them and Sam Lockley as well as Offaly killed Leeds for a lot of the game.
01:21Leeds had some good individual performance, I thought Matt Frumley had probably his best game for Leeds so far and it was good to see James Donaldson back for the first time since February.
01:33He added some hard work and effort off the bench but Leeds just again not quite good enough, lapses of concentration, errors at crucial times and they weren't able to see the game out so that's a disappointing result.
01:48They now remain four points behind the top six with just nine games remaining and it's a tall order from here on in.