Head Coach, Paul Rowley says Leeds Rhinos were better in every important department in today’s Betfred Super League Round 2 clash
Despite a lightening quick start, where Kallum Watkins powered over after just two minutes, the Reds were on the receiving end of a physical battle at the Salford Community Stadium.
Speaking in his post-match press conference, our Head Coach said: “On the game, I thought we started very brightly, but as you’ve seen in all the games across Super League at the beginning of the season – in particular last night’s game between Warrington and Catalans – rucks are really slow.
“What that’s doing is contributing to a real war of attrition, physically, so you’ve got to win the physical battle. We’ve seen defences that are really dominant across Super League, they’ve been really tough and uncompromising.
“There’s two real commodities that you’ve got to have at the beginning of a season the way it’s running at the minute – one is completion at a high rate and the other is toughness in defence.
“I thought we started well, but after 20 minutes, I thought Leeds dominated both of them areas. They completed high and they were physically dominant across the board, and absolutely deserved the manner of the victory they got.
“In that respect, we could look at it pragmatically and say there’s a bit of money in the bank for us because they’re a few games in. I know it’s the second league game, but friendlies as well, so they’re a bit more battle hardened than us.
“Like any big game, it’s the team who can do everything to a higher standard and a physically better standard for a long period of time. On today’s evidence that was Leeds and that’s the level we need to aspire to get too.”
