Leeds Rhinos set challenge ahead of pressure cooker clash with Hull

PRESSURE: Leeds Rhinos Konrad Hurrell is held by Mitch Garbutt and Harvey Livett in last weekends 32-16 loss at home to relegation rivals Hull KR.

LEEDS RHINOS’ players have been challenged to prove they can handle pressure against visitors Hull tomorrow.

Rhinos interim coach Richard Agar felt they failed to do that in a big game last week when they were stunned 32-16 at home by relegation rivals Hull KR.

With St Helens resting at least nine first-choice men for their trip to bottom club London Broncos, who are just two points behind Leeds, tomorrow’s result could be crucial and Agar wants his pivots to show more control.

“There were a number of errors from our seven and our nine,” he said of last week’s failure.

“There’s a responsibility on those guys not to put us under so much pressure.

“They handle the ball more than anybody else in the team and we need more from them and more in terms of our kicking game.”

But the team boss insisted: “I do think we have shown we can handle that over recent weeks.

“It was disappointing so many areas we have shown so much pride in fell apart for us last week.

“Four tries at home should be enough to get you the win. Take the first and last five minutes of the Saints game out of it and over the last six weeks we’ve been averaging two tries a game conceded.

“Last week was an opportunity lost, but we are still in a situation where every game is absolutely winnable - and where every game if we don’t turn up at our best something like last week can happen.

“There was a real lesson for us. There was a little bit of talk about can Leeds launch a late bid for the play-offs?