LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
Leeds Rhinos' head coach Brad Arthur expressed strong criticism of his team's attitude following their 18-4 defeat to St Helens, describing their first-half performance as "embarrassing." Despite entering the match on a five-game winning streak in the Super League, Leeds struggled, managing only one try as the hosts executed key plays effectively.
Arthur noted a troubling pattern of handling errors that prevented the Rhinos from capitalizing on scoring opportunities.
Reflecting on the halftime situation, Arthur remarked, "It wasn't a 'spray' because I don't know if that was going to make much difference." He emphasized that the team faced their worst 40 minutes and needed to focus on improving their performance rather than simply chasing the scoreline.
He stated, "We had 40 minutes to just chase a performance not the scoreboard, and unfortunately we continued to chase the scoreboard."
Arthur highlighted that the defeat stemmed from a lack of proper attitude, stating, "I think it comes back to one thing and that's attitude." He acknowledged that St Helens demonstrated a better commitment to executing fundamental plays and building a cohesive game.
In contrast, Leeds appeared to be seeking a quick win rather than focusing on overall performance development.