Leeds Rhinos interim coach Chev Walker has issued a scathing review of the Headingley atmosphere following their game against London Broncos.
The Rhinos, against a Broncos side with just one win all season, and off the back of two incredibly heavy defeats in a row, were taken to golden point extra-time; they could easily have lost it if not for some poor decision-making and mistakes at the end from the away side.
Brodie Croft’s boot won the game in the end, but the consensus was that it was an incredibly poor performance.
Leeds Rhinos interim coach Chev Walker, asked after the game if he had enjoyed it, said: “No, I didn’t at all. I thought it was a scruffy game.
“They were more spirited. If it were a game about spirit, London would have beat us – which is sad really, from the game before to that.”
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He then, which will perhaps frustrate Rhinos supporters, said: “What do I put it down to? There was very little atmosphere and I think we just went along with it and kind of played in second gear in the first half.
“Second half, there was a little more commitment to it but making more errors than we did in the first half. It cost us.
“The rucks were slow but I don’t blame the referee. Why would you penalise it if we were just laying there?
“If you commit to your carry and fight to play the ball then you might get one, but you’re not going to get given it if you just laid there so that’s on us.
“The ruck was slow because we allowed it to be.”
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Leeds Rhinos interim coach: “All we can do is encourage them”
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Asked if the players accepted that it wasn’t good enough, he responded: “Yeah and they got themselves together at the end and they addressed themselves on the field.
It’s only them that can do it: find a way not to go through that, that they’ve just come through, again.
It’s on them to pull together and do that to themselves, and all we can do is encourage them to keep buying in and tapping into what they are actually good at.
