Steady progress - Agar assesses Leeds Rhinos' revival

Agar took over, initially as caretaker coach, last July after Dave Furner was sacked just 15 games into the season.

Rhinos have won 12 of their 25 competitive fixtures under the former Hull and Wakefield Trinity boss and were on a four-match hot streak when the rugby league was halted last month by the coronavirus pandemic.

Rhinos have conceded an average of slightly less than 16 points per game under Agar, compared with almost 27 when Furner was at the helm.

On attack, they have scored 27 per match, five more than the average under the previous coach.

According to the club’s own statistics, Leeds are now conceding the second-fewest metres per game and equal-second fewest breaks, having previously been bottom and eighth respectively on those indicators.

Rhinos’ figures also reveal they are now the joint-best side in terms of defending drop-outs and are fifth on the table of passes made, up four places from the first half of last year.

Agar is cautious about the improvement shown, pointing out that this season Rhinos have played two fewer games than most of their rivals, with a favourable fixture list including only one away match, but he reflected: “I would say we have made progress.”

Agar reckons a realistic measure is to look at Rhinos’ results since the Magic Weekend last May, when they beat London Broncos in a tense relegation scrap.

“The first two games [after Furner’s exit] were Bradford and Castleford,” he recalled.

“They were ground zero. I know they count on the record, but if you go from the Magic Weekend to where we are now, it is 12 wins from 19.