'Close enough isn't going to be good enough': Leeds Rhinos boss Brad Arthur reacts to Hull KR defeat

But Jai Whitbread and Jez Litten scored late on to secure a 20-12 victory for Rovers and deny Arthur a winning start to his Super League career.

The Australian enjoyed his first Headingley experience but stressed to his players that effort alone will not bridge the four-point gap to the play-off positions.

"The support from our fans was great," said Arthur.

"It was nice and loud. Hopefully they've seen enough in them to want to come back and watch them again.

"But we've already spoken to the boys – they want to see us try but they want to see us win. They put themselves in position, they were close enough but close enough isn't going to be good enough."

On Leeds' top-six prospects, Arthur added: "That's nine weeks away.

"That's got to be the end result we chase but what we need to do is the stuff we did well but do it better."

The result cemented KR's place in the top four as they chase a home semi-final in the play-offs.

A sixth win in seven games leaves Willie Peters' side two points adrift of leaders Wigan Warriors with nine rounds remaining.

The gritty performance in challenging circumstances encouraged Peters as the play-offs come into view.

"The boys had to work extremely hard but we knew that we would," he said.

"We certainly knew we were going to get a spike with Leeds' effort and physicality. I know how Brad likes to coach from the NRL and they certainly played that way.

"They were dominant in that first half so we had to dig deep and that's why I'm extremely proud of the players. We toughed that one out and found a way to win.

"You win games at the back end of the season like that. They're all tight games and are ugly.

"You don't win those big games from beautiful shape. You want that, no doubt, but the teams that are there every year graft and work hard for each other. That's what we did today."