Brad Arthur urges Leeds to shrug off loss to salvage home advantage in play-offs
Catalans managed a shock 18-6 win at Headingley last night
Leeds head coach Brad Arthur urged his side to shrug off their frustrating defeat to Catalans and salvage home advantage in the play-offs when they head to Wigan in the final round of the regular Betfred Super League season next week.
On a night when a win would have set up a showdown for second place at Wigan on Friday, the Rhinos' recent momentum came to a juddering halt as tries from Ugo Tison and Romain Navarrete sealed a shock 18-6 away win for the struggling French side at Headingley.
Another loss at the Brick Community Stadium could now see the Rhinos sink as low as fifth in the final table depending on other results, an eventuality that would see them surrender home advantage.
"We had an opportunity tonight, we've let it go and it's disappointing," said Arthur. "The club and everyone deserves better but unfortunately we can't do anything about it right now - the only thing we can do is respond.
"I think we've seen a couple of those performances this season. Our losses look the same. We were in a position where we can probably win the game but we find ways to lose it.
"It felt like tonight a few guys tried a little bit too hard to come up with plays. We got a lot of big plays wrong, a lot of execution wrong.
"It's disappointing because I don't know where it's come from. We can't beat ourselves because that's what we did."
Leeds' hopes of winning at Wigan next week could hinge on the return of talismanic half-back Jake Connor, who was badly missed due to a broken rib and is in a race against time to return on Friday.
Confirming that Connor would take his recovery day by day, Arthur added: "It's hard to be positive after a performance like that but we know that's not the team we've been for the majority of the year.
"That one game is not a reflection of us and we've got to make sure of that next week."
Catalans head coach Joel Tomkins hailed an heroic performance from his injury-hit side and said it was a display that gave him hope for the future.
Tomkins replaced Steve McNamara in the role midway through a torrid campaign which saw the Dragons long since forced to concede defeat in their push for the play-offs.
"I know it's been in us but I thought tonight was a special effort," said Tomkins. "It's one of the bravest performances I've been involved with.
"We were down to our last 18 fit players, backs against the wall coming up against a top team, it's either flight or fight and tonight we decided to fight."
Tomkins has been tasked with the challenge of rebuilding the Catalans side and there were already signs on and off the field that the 2025 campaign would go down as a rare blip in the club's otherwise-successful top-flight history.
"Over the last 12 weeks, even in games we've lost, it gives us encouragement that we're doing the right thing," Tomkins added.
"Most certainly there has to be some changes in the way we go about our business. (But) I'm confident next year with that attitude and effort we showed tonight, that we can challenge."