Leeds Rhinos 48, Leigh Leopards 30: Brad Arthur's press conference

Peter Smith

Leeds Rhinos coach Brad Arthur's full press conference after the 48-30 win against Leigh Leopards.

Transcript

00:00Any questions?

00:03Well, Brad, it was quite a night. What were your thoughts on the game?

00:08Yeah, look, I can sit here and be negative and talk about the defence of both teams,

00:13but that sort of game is what the fans want to see.

00:17There was lots of tries, lots of great skill on show.

00:21Both teams went at it and really threw a lot at each other

00:24and sometimes those sort of contests, that's where it gets to

00:27and it's hard to defend.

00:29Both coaches will look at the defence, but I'm not concerned

00:36because it hasn't been consistent with us.

00:38It's just that style of game.

00:40We came here to have a better response from last week

00:45and go after the game and we did that.

00:47So that's all I'm worried about. It was fourth versus third

00:50and we jumped a spot there and both teams showed that they're worthy of where they sit.

00:57You talked during the week about the importance of their performance.

01:00Were they halfway there or better than that?

01:02Yeah, look, we've done lots of good things.

01:04Sometimes it's hard when you get into those games and they get a little bit loose

01:08to rein it back in and we did that when we needed to.

01:11You score a couple of tries and they go for three or four short kickoffs.

01:18That doesn't happen all the time in the game.

01:20So there's a lot of things that don't normally happen in the game that you've got to deal with

01:23and you've just got to work out how we respond to it a little bit better.

01:26Overall, we're trying to grow the game and that's what people want to see.

01:32I don't want to see too many against us but I'll put it down to a nice win

01:38and enjoy a couple of days break that we've got into a tough game next week.

01:43Yeah, Lee scored points, they applied pressure, they got close to you.

01:48Were you pleased with the way that your team responded to some of those difficult moments in the game?

01:53Yeah, because you can get flustered and you can start getting nervous and go into your shell and we didn't do that.

01:59We've come up with a couple of soft efforts for tries but like I said,

02:05I'm not going to make excuses for our defence but I just think sometimes those games,

02:09they just have a habit of being a bit of touch footy and been involved in them before.

02:16I'm sure the fans and people would rather see that than 8-6.

02:21Spectacular attack at times.

02:23Yeah, it was both teams but they scored some good tries too.

02:26Both teams really tested each other and it's hard to defend

02:30because it changes what you do in defence when teams are just all out attack.

02:34It does change what you do in defence.

02:36Callum Watkins rolling back the ears again.

02:38Yeah, he's a good one.

02:39He's easy to coach, I don't have to really worry about him.

02:43Put him on the back row, he's been in the middle, he went to the left side this week

02:48so he can play anywhere.

02:50He's been a handy addition for us.

02:52And finally from me, Jake Connor, 8 from 8.

02:55Yeah, he came really well, that helped.

02:58If he can go up in sixes, that certainly makes a difference.

03:01We put a nice kick up and he came up with a nice contest.

03:05You know, to get Miklai a try and Miklai wanted to make sure I'd give him a shout out for his try.

03:11So front rowers don't get too many but our forwards are getting a few which is good.

03:16Obviously two tries from Callum, contrasting tries with that.

03:19The second the dummy was, I think it pulled everybody in the ground.

03:22It was a little bit special, wasn't it?

03:24Yeah, he's pretty smart.

03:26You know, he obviously knew that we had quite a bit of support there.

03:31And, you know, he's seen the eyes of the fullback, what he was going for the intercept.

03:36It was only a couple of weeks ago against Castleford.

03:38We had the same sort of set up and we passed it straight to the fullback.

03:41So, this shows you his class.

03:43You know, that sort of stuff is not driven by any coaches.

03:47Me or that he's had in the past, he's just a class footballer.

03:50He played for late as well, didn't he?

03:52Yep.

03:53I mean, it's not a bad effort on a warm night for him.

03:55Yeah, it's good.

03:56And some of his efforts in defence were really good.

04:00And then some of his efforts in attack to take a lot of those tough carries in red zone on the back of kick returns.

04:06You know, he took a lot of early tough carries.

04:09And that was something I asked him to do and challenged him before the game.

04:12You know, to take those tough carries up when we need them when we're getting bashed on our trial on.

04:16Coming off our trial.

04:17And he did a lot of those tonight.

04:19Harry Newman took tries as well and he obviously had a big game.

04:24Yeah, he was good.

04:26A lot of the guys did.

04:27And, you know, the good thing about it is I'm just going to sit down and enjoy the game and watch it.

04:32You know, I'm going to get frustrated with a bit of the defence.

04:34But, you know, look at it from a perspective that we asked the boys to come with a good response.

04:39And they did.

04:40You just asked you about a couple of selections.

04:42Obviously Riley Lund was out for the first time this season.

04:46And Bentley as well.

04:47That was squad rotation.

04:49Yeah, and Bentos is a bit crook.

04:51And so, look, we've got the luxury that, you know, we've got a good depth in our squad.

04:57We're reasonably healthy.

04:59So we've got the luxury of not having to push blokes when we don't have to.

05:03And, you know, Riley has played 15 games straight and probably played way more than we thought he would this year.

05:08You know, with the injury to Micah.

05:10So, probably a good week just to give him a week off and give Alphie an opportunity.

05:16You know, he hasn't had a lot of opportunity.

05:17And I thought he'd done a pretty good job tonight.

05:19It doesn't really matter now.

05:21But I think he was a little bit unlucky with the...

05:24I think he's not helped, right?

05:26Yeah, look, I need to watch the replays closely, but I thought it was a try.

05:31Thanks, Brad.

05:33Brad, Sean Wayne's been adamant since he took charge of England that he would pick the side and the squads on form.

05:38In terms of performance squad, I mean, would it be harsh at this point if Jake kind of wasn't included enough given the way he's playing?

05:45I think he's probably done enough to get a mention.

05:48But, you know, we've got quite a good representation in there.

05:53And if the boys keep playing well, well, it only enhances Jake's opportunities.

05:59And, you know, at the moment all the individual rewards or accolades that players get,

06:05it can only happen and it can only be built if it's sort of a team-based focus and mentality.

06:10So if the team continues to play well for each other, we'll get more guys that might get added to that squad.

06:15You weren't obviously able to get a settled spine in that first six to eight weeks of the year,

06:19but now you've got Miller, Croft, Connor and O'Connor as well.

06:23I mean, they all like the thriving.

06:25Yeah, they're getting better.

06:26Our connection wasn't great last week.

06:28And, yeah, they've done a pretty good job tonight.

06:32There's still some areas there that, you know, look, for an 80 minutes, we haven't quite nailed that yet.

06:36But what are we, round 16 going into round 17, so we've still got a little bit of time to get it right.

06:42Just on Jake, obviously, he's got this reputation for how he acts, how he performs on the pitch.

06:47As an Aussie, if you were watching the Kangaroos this year, would you want to watch Jake, Connor,

06:51try and rattle some of your boys?

06:53I'm pretty happy with Jake's behaviour on the field.

06:56He's doing a good job, isn't he?

06:57He's been very discreet about when he's having a little nickel.

07:02I think he's doing a pretty good job of hiding it.

07:07Thanks, Brett.

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