'Top two for a reason': Leeds Rhinos boss Brad Arthur on Hull KR lesson
Leeds Rhinos head coach Brad Arthur said Hull Kingston Rovers are flying high for a reason after his team's play-off hopes ended.
Rovers were without Elliot Minchella, Niall Evalds, Oliver Gildart and Kelepi Tanginoa but still managed to win 26-16 against Leeds at Craven Park on Friday night to secure a second-placed finish. Leeds had made it tough for Rovers in the first half though - but the Rhinos suffered a second successive defeat, having lost away against first-placed Wigan Warriors the previous week. It was a lesson in the dangers of over-playing.
Arthur said: "The two opposition that we have played are at the top of the table for a reason. We were right in that game at 10-10, 14-10 (down) at the start of the second half. We get a penalty coming out of red zone, we make an error, and we gifted them field position. So they didn't have to work extremely hard for that field position.
READ MORE:Multiple Man of Steel winner Sam Tomkins gives view on Hull KR's Mikey Lewis' prospects
READ MORE:Adam Pearson's Hull FC message with 'fundamental' changes outlined after 'embarrassing' year
"We turned over too much possession early in the second half. The last ten or 15 minutes was probably what we needed to do in the first ten minutes, just graft away, grind away, get some field position then you find your way over the try line, like they found their way over the try line, through a glut of possession at the try line."
Hull KR's second-half tries came from Tom Opacic, Jesse Sue and Joe Burgess as they pulled clear - with the Robins' first half scores coming from man of the match Matt Parcell and Peta Hiku.
Click here - Get the latest news on our Rugby League Live WhatsApp channel