Leeds Rhinos: Our best is yet to come - Hetherington INTERVIEW

[josie andrews]

LEEDS RHINOS’ shattered players have been backed to respond positively to their Carnegie Challenge Cup final disappointment.

Rhinos return to action in two days’ time, when they take on visitors Wakefield Trinity Wildcats in a vital Engage Super League fixture.

Sixth-placed Leeds still need one win to qualify for the play-offs and could finish anywhere from fourth to ninth.

The squad returned to training yesterday and chief executive Gary Hetherington admitted Rhinos’ players have no time to feel sorry for themselves with the Grand Final less than six weeks away.

“Everything that has happened through the course of the season is behind us now,” said Hetherington.

“There is a real focus on what’s ahead. There could be six games left and every game is a knock-out. At this stage of the season other teams are starting to wilt, but we have a healthy, committed squad and our best is yet to come.”

Hetherington is confident there will be no Wembley hangover on Friday night, following the 28-18 defeat by Wigan Warriors six days earlier.

“We were exceptionally well prepared for Saturday and the team were very confident,” he said.

“They went into it in as good a frame of mind as I have ever seen from a Leeds Rhinos team and at the end of it they were desperately disappointed – almost to the point of angrily disappointed.

“But by 6 o’clock the focus was on the rest of the season. There is all to play for. There’s a sense that throughout the course of the season the team have been inconsistent and haven’t shown their best, but there’s still time to do that.

“I am sure there will be a positive response.”

Hetherington described Friday’s final league game as an opportunity to “thank all all the fans who made the journey to Wembley and gave terrific backing”.

It will also be an official farewell to departing duo Keith Senior and Ali Lauitiiti. Entertainment will be provided by opera man John Innes and Tony Christie, of Amarillo fame.

Meanwhile, Hetherington confirmed he has received an apology from Wigan over Sam Tomkins’ offensive gesture during the Cup final. Wigan say Tomkins – who aimed two fingers at the Leeds supporters following his side’s first try – has been “censured and fined”.

In a statement, Wigan chairman Ian Lenagan said: “We were ashamed at the gesture made to the Leeds fans by a Wigan player, Sam Tomkins, in Saturday’s final. Such gestures towards opposing fans have no place at Wigan or in the rugby league family and both I and (coach) Michael Maguire condemn them unreservedly.”

Lenagan said Tomkins had “come forward to apologise voluntarily for his immature action”, which he admitted was “disrespectful” to Leeds fans.

In the same statement, Tomkins apologised for the gesture, which he said was made “in the heat of the moment”.

Hetherington said the apology was “appropriate” and described the matter as an “RFL issue”.

Tomkins was yesterday found guilty by the RFL of minor misconduct. He was deemed to be in breach of Operational Rule D1.8(c) (Improper Conduct) and the RFL’s Respect Policy and was fined £1,000, suspended until the end of the 2012 season.

Tomkins was also reprimanded and warned as to his future behaviour. He has 14 days in which to appeal.

http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/s ... _1_3727221

[the winky one]

And its about time, that yorkshire dick apologised for his team's inbred supporters and all the vile abuse they constantly give to Sam even when he is representing his country.

Thank you Morph! They were the same with Andy Farrell,
in fact they were a disgrace with their chants