Jamie Jones-Buchanan reveals how Leeds Rhinos players reacted to Richard Agar leaving

When Richard Agar left Leeds Rhinos on Monday following over three years in charge, it was a big day in rugby league.

Agar had saved Leeds from relegation when he took over in 2019, won the Challenge Cup Final in 2020 and got the Rhinos to within 80 minutes of the Grand Final last year.

For new interim coach Jamie Jones-Buchanan there was a weird feeling in the air.

“I imagine there would be a fair bit of disappointment and a sense of a new opportunity,” Jones-Buchanan said.

“The dynamic of any team we all have reflections on our coaches and desires and we’ve got a few ideas about how we want to be and what the coaching staff wants from us.

“You would have to ask them individually but collectively it was a heavy day and difficult for us to take.

“I love Leeds and the last thing I ever want to see is players and staff leaving especially a head coach.”

Jones-Buchanan praised Agar for his work at the club.

“I would be the first to recognise that every coach wants to leave the club in a better place than when they came in and Richard Agar did that no doubt.

“We were battling relegation when he first came in, we went through Covid, environmental issues at Kirkstall and so much stuff that he had to pick up and he did that.”