Tigers are without a win this season and were crushed 46-6 at home by St Helens in Betfred Super League round two last weekend.
But after their Challenge Cup defeat at Championship side Bradford Bulls, Tigers bounced back to take last year’s Super League runners-up Hull KR to golden-point extra-time in round one and Arthur expects them to come up with a similar response on Sunday.
Tigers coach Danny McGuire accused his side of lacking “ energy and passion and desire” against Saints and Arthur has predicted a physical reaction.
“They’ve copped a bit of a spray off their coach,” he noted “They’ve been told they are soft and nobody likes to be called soft. I think they are going to come with a lot of intensity and effort and energy.”
Leeds got up and running with a 32-6 win at Salford Red Devils last week and Arthur reckons that has given them a foundation, but he believes they are a long way from where they need to be.
“We need to compete really hard and be professional with our approach,” he said of this weekend’s derby.
“Results are very important, but it’s more the manner and way and how we play and us understanding what is going to work for us moving forward
“We are still only at 50-60 per cent of where I think we need to get to, but it is a good base to build from.”
The Rhinos welcome back Mikolaj Oledzki and Jack Sinfield for this Sunday’s clash with Castleford Tigers at AMT Headingley, kick off 3pm.
Make sure you are there – book your ticket now at https://t.co/5Ly9s1IdTg— Leeds Rhinos (@leedsrhinos) February 28, 2025
