'Heading in the right direction': Brad Arthur assesses Leeds Rhinos' early-season form
Brad Arthur is refusing to get carried away with Leeds Rhinos' strong start to the season but has taken encouragement from the way his senior players are setting the early standard.
The Rhinos have racked up three straight wins since succumbing to Leigh Leopards with a weakened team on the opening weekend of Super League.
After making light work of defending champions Hull KR stateside, Leeds shrugged off the Las Vegas hangover with a professional derby win over Castleford Tigers.
"It's only early days and we've got a long way to go," said Arthur ahead of Friday's Challenge Cup tie at Wakefield Trinity.
"The proof will be in the pudding at the end of the year, not now – but we're heading in the right direction.
"I've got to give a lot of credit to our senior players. I lean on them to be reliable and low maintenance for me so I can spend more time with the other guys.
"They need to self-manage, manage the team and drive the standards. They're doing a really good job.
"Those senior players need to make sure they play well every week to set an example for the young guys. What they'll see is what they'll do."
Leeds secured their highest finish in eight years last season, only to fall at the first hurdle in the play-offs in agonising fashion against St Helens.
After keeping the bulk of the squad together and adding a sprinkling of fresh talent, including the impressive Danny Levi, the Rhinos are determined to avoid the kind of sucker punch that ended their 2025 campaign.
"We've got a lot of consistency from last year in terms of players," added Arthur, who could welcome back Mikolaj Oledzki, Brodie Croft and James McDonnell against Wakefield.
"That allowed us to train a lot more with the ball in scenario-based situations in pre-season.
"We're starting to see a little bit of evidence on the field and are getting the hang of it a little bit better. Where last year we might have bombed opportunities to score, we're getting better at nailing them.
"It's a work-on for us to get better at defending when our line has been pulled out of shape and we've got different people in different positions. We're getting a bit better at that as well."