Leeds Rhinos Head Coach Richard Agar ‘excited’ about play-off deciding ‘do or die’ clash with Hull KR at Headingley

When Leeds Rhinos take to the field on Friday night at home to Hull Kingston Rovers, they will know exactly what is at stake in relation to extending their season by securing a play-off spot.

Castleford Tigers take on Warrington Wolves tonight and should the Tigers win, it will be a winner takes all affair for the Rhinos in front of a roaring crowd at Emerald Headingley Stadium where either they or KR will take the final available spot in the top six and reach the Super League play-offs.

If Castleford lose against Warrington, then both Leeds and Hull KR will finish in the top six but whoever comes out on top in their meeting will finish higher in the table. Whatever the outcome of the Tigers’ match, Rhinos Head Coach Richard Agar won’t change his plans to finish the regular season on a high.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference on Thursday morning, he said:

“If I’m honest, we’ve not even mentioned tonight’s game in any of our team meetings. Of course, we will be watching it and seeing how that unravels, but we’ve always said that we can only control what we can control.

“We’ve been preparing for a must-win game against a good team in front of our home fans so tonight is a little bit irrespective. We’re going out tomorrow to take care of it ourselves regardless of what happens tonight. You can’t rely on other things going your way around you.

“We’ve had the correct mindset all week that it’s all about us getting that win tomorrow night. If it goes the other way [and Castleford lose tonight]then so be it, but our attitude won’t change. We feel like we’re in play-off territory now and we’re in sudden death. It’s exciting for us, it’s do or die rugby.”

Leeds’ opponents on Friday night, Hull KR, have enjoyed a successful campaign to date which few predicted. Last season, when there was no relegation due to the withdrawal of Canadian side Toronto Wolfpack, the Robins finished bottom of the league and won just three games from 17.

In contrast to that, this season they have won 10 from 19 and sit in fifth going into the final round of fixtures. One of those victories came back in April against the Rhinos, and Agar isn’t underestimating the Rovers regardless of what happens in Castleford’s game.

“Hull KR are a really good side and in their last two games, they’ve got their confidence back. Last week [when they beat Castleford Tigers at home]was a real confidence boosting victory against a good side in what was a must-win game for them. They did a really good job in a tight game.

“Anybody that plays Hull KR is fully aware of the threats that their style of rugby can bring, it’s high risk and very high reward. One thing about them that’s stood out to me is their effort defensively to cover small areas. When it does go wrong for them, their scramble [to keep opponents out]has been outstanding.

“[If Castleford lose] there hasn’t even been a conversation about changing our lineup. Our personnel definitely won’t change depending on what happens tonight. We want a good performance against one of our rivals to go into the play-offs on the back of.

“We might get some players back for the play-offs, but we’ve got to get into them first. We got whacked last week [losing heavily at St Helens]so trying to get a good performance in the week before the play-offs is very important to us.

“Irrespective of what happens next week, you don’t want to go into the play-offs – if you make it – on the back of a heavy defeat and a performance that isn’t at the levels you want it to be at.”

Prost International writers will be covering both crucial play-off deciding games over the next two days.

Ethan O’Gorman, @EthanWadeJourno on Twitter, will be at the Mend-A-Hose Jungle to see Castleford Tigers take on Warrington Wolves tonight.

Meanwhile, whatever is at stake, Ben Olawumi, @OlawumiJourno on Twitter, will be at Headingley tomorrow night to watch Leeds Rhinos go up against Hull KR.

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