Richie Myler is ready to fire Leeds into Super League’s play-offs - and has opened up on a spat with Phil Clarke.
The talented full-back is relishing Rhinos’ all-or-nothing clash with Castleford on Saturday. Whoever wins claims the final top-six place and keeps alive their dream of reaching Old Trafford. In-form Leeds had won six on the bounce before falling in Perpignan on Monday.
Castleford were hammered 50-10 at home by Salford on the same day and are heavily-depleted going into the Headingley showdown. Ex-England international Myler, 32, said: “We’re all excited. The play-offs have essentially come a week early for us. It's a do-or-die game. We’re looking forward to getting out there in front of hopefully a full crowd and getting the job done.
“We've got some stuff to put right after last week but we’ve been in good shape for the last month or so. Cas have mentioned their injury issues but whenever Leeds play them it’s a local derby and fans get right up for it no matter what team’s out there.
“It doesn’t matter who the one to 17 is. Joe Westerman is a huge player for them and I’ve been on the wrong side of things when him and Paul McShane have controlled games. But we’re just concentrating on what we’re going to do.”
On their last outing at Headingley, Leeds secured a late Blake Austin match-winning try against Huddersfield to keep their surge for the play-offs on track. It came after ex-England prop Chris Hill was penalised and sin-binned for a dangerous challenge on Myler. The incident caused uproar with Sky Sports pundit Clarke referencing “cheating”, claiming the Leeds player “kidded” the referee by putting himself in a dangerous position.
But Myler, who has gone through a much-publicised marriage split with TV presenter Helen Skelton, fired: “I thought using that word live on telly was out of order and I’ve said it to Phil Clarke. He stood by what he said. But I was fighting to get up to play the ball and Hilly was fighting to slow me down.
“I pushed up to get up, I felt him lift me and felt I was going into a dangerous position so I got out of it. It was six of one and half a dozen of another. I thought a penalty would have been sufficient but I’m not a referee.”
Indeed, neither Myler nor his ex-Warrington team-mate Hill were handed any further action by the match review panel. Myler has been in excellent form this term. Rhinos have revived since Australian coach Rohan Smith took over with them near the wrong end of the table in April.
He said: “I'm really enjoying my rugby at the minute and the role I'm playing in the team. The way we play suits my game and I'm playing with a lot of confidence. That's reflected in the team performances: you can see individuals are definitely playing with a lot of confidence and working hard for each other.
“If you have those two elements together you have a chance of being successful. Rohan’s not waved a magic wand. He's just come in with a fresh voice and been very calm and collected in the way he’s gone about things and the boys have fed off that.”
Myler, who joined Leeds from Catalans in 2018, is desperate to finally claim a Super League title. He lost Grand Finals with Warrington against Leeds in 2012 and Wigan 12 months later.
“It's everyone's dream to win a Grand Final and get a ring at the end of the season,” said the player who will represent Ireland at the World Cup next month.
“Ever since I started playing rugby league that's what I’ve aim for. I’ve been fortunate to get there a couple of times and never got over the line. But it’s not changed: I still want that.”
