Richard Agar believes Leeds have mentality to make Grand Final

Correspondent
Richard Agar and his Leeds squad

Leeds celebrate there win over Wigan

Leeds coach Richard Agar is convinced his players have the right mentality to go all the way to the Grand Final after knocking out last year’s runners-up Wigan.Winger Ash Handley scored the only try of the game as Leeds secured a semi-final berth with an attritional 8-0 win in the opening Super League play-off tie at the DW Stadium.Leeds now face a trip to either Catalans Dragons or St Helens next week and with it a chance to win the title from fifth place for the third time.

Agar said: “I’m not surprised we’re in the penultimate game. I’ve seen the commitment to each other and their ability to ride adversity.

“We know we’re going to be playing a really good team. What a difficult task it will be to get through to the GF but we’ll give it out best shot.”

REPORT: Wigan 0-8 Leeds: Ash Handley try sees Rhinos progress in play-offs

Richard Agar praises his determined side

There was little to choose between the sides in a point-less first half. But, once Handley broke the deadlock nine minutes into the second half, courtesy of full-back Richie Myler palming the ball back from Kruise Leeming’s high kick, they took a stranglehold on the game.

Richard Agar said: “There was a bit of luck or good judgement about the way we scored our try. Whichever way you look at it but he definitely played for it.

“It was a tough, brutal game, it was what we expected. Wigan have been defending well and points are hard to come by, especially on a cold, damp night.

“To come to Wigan twice and keep them scoreless shows our guys pretty invested in each other.

“I thought we defended really well as well. There were some periods in the second half where we started to control the ball but we looked a little bit fatigued in defence too.

“We felt pretty comfortable with what they were throwing at us.

“We couldn’t quite finish enough sets well enough and come up with a consistent enough kicking game to put Wigan under pressure. But we got a chance and we took it.”