Leeds going all out to see history repeat itself in league

Leeds head to Sale Sharks tomorrow night in the first of three games against the teams directly above them that will ultimately decide whether they can again beat the drop.

South Africa-born scrum-half Mathie scored the only try in a 19-10 win at Edgeley Park last season, a victory that sparked a three-game winning run as Leeds clawed their way off the foot of the table.

Leeds face a steeper mountain this year with Newcastle seven points clear of them with a game in hand and Sale two points further ahead having played the same amount of games. But Mathie, 28, believes lightning can strike twice.

He said: “There’s definitely a belief we can do it. Last year no one gave us a chance and we did it. We’re in the same situation again and feel we can do it again.

“We know, like last year, that we won’t fail through lack of effort, and we’re putting in the work. We know what it takes, we’ve just got to replicate what we did last year.

“We have three very big games (Exeter and Newcastle to follow) and if we can win those we are right back in it. These games are eight-point swings and a chance for us to drag teams back into the race.”

Leeds have won only twice in 16 games and did not win for the first four months of the season.

That slow start is why Neil Back’s side are staring relegation in the face, yet Mathie – who has started 14 of those games – feels a change in perspective is behind their improved form.

He said: “We lacked a bit of direction, a bit of physical nous early on. As the season’s progressed we’ve been better at the breakdown, a bit more direct and it’s enabled me to get better ball for myself and therefore better ball for my backs.

“We maybe aimed too high at the start, we didn’t interpret the laws as well as we should.

“We were slow to catch on, but we’ve simplified our game plan, we know what we must do, and we’re on target.”