Super League: Leeds Rhinos head coach Rohan Smith ready for winner-takes-all showdown
Leeds Rhinos will face a winner-takes-all clash with Castleford Tigers in the final round of the Betfred Super League regular season; You can watch the play-off decider live on Sky Sports Arena on Saturday September 3, with kick off at 3pm
Saturday 3 September 2022 07:31, UK
Leeds Rhinos head coach Rohan Smith believes his side are ready for a "winner-takes-all" clash with Castleford Tigers on Saturday as they battle it out to secure the final play-off place in Super League.
After both sides lost last time out, the Rhinos missed their chance to clinch a top-six spot after losing to Catalans Dragons, the prospect of a clash where the winner will make the play-offs at their opponents' expense awaits.
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Whoever takes victory will join St Helens, Wigan Warriors, Catalans Dragons, Huddersfield Giants and Salford Red Devils in the battle for an all-important place in the Grand Final.
Although Smith has been a coach that has prioritised focusing on week to week improvements for his side, he now admits that there is a "lot at stake" in Saturday's clash.
"I keep being asked about the league table but it is safe to say, now it is not even worth looking at the table as everyone knows what is at stake, it's us and Castleford, winner takes all.
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"It's great for the competition and we're excited to have that opportunity to do it," said Smith.
"A few weeks back if someone told us we were playing for a play-off spot in Round 27 at home, we would have jumped all over that."
Whilst the pressure will be high, the Rhinos coach believes his side are now used to the do-or-die mentality that such a high pressure match-up requires.
"It's another level up because you know it's your last chance to get the result but, to a point, we've been playing with that pressure for weeks," he added.
"We have won six in a row before the Catalans game so we have been playing on the edge for months so there is no need for us to crank it up too much.
"Our aim will be to try to have a more polished performance come Saturday."
Live Betfred Super League
You can watch Leeds Rhinos and Castleford Tigers battle it out in the play-off decider live on Sky Sports Arena on September 3, with kick off at 3pm.
