Stood on the metal steps up the side of Odsal's hospitality suite Richard Agar was beginning to process the enormity of the job he had just been thrust into. Agar had just overseen Leeds' lowest ebb in recent history after they had been humiliated and dumped out of the cup by Championship outfit Bradford Bulls.
1048 days later, Agar has walked away from the role after overseeing the worst moment since that dismal day at Odsal. Hardly anyone within rugby league would have expected the 50-year-old to last as long as he has in the role after that day, Agar included.
He was an unfashionable appointment from the moment he arrived. A section of the fanbase has never truly accepted his presence in the hot seat and support has quickly, and at times unfairly, turned against him when things haven't gone to plan. In that sense, the former Hull FC and Wakefield Trinity boss has always been fighting a losing battle and done so while trying to meet lofty expectations in place as a result of Leeds' reign of dominance.
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There is a degree of delusion that lingers at Headingley. The idea that Leeds would be able to fix the issues that Agar inherited instantly was ambitious at best and fanatical at worst. Nearly three years later, Agar leaves with a Challenge Cup trophy and a play-off semi-final to his name. Coaches can be judged on many things but simply put, Agar leaves the Rhinos post in a much better position than when he arrived and has ultimately stopped the rot. This was a club that Kevin Sinfield infamously described as having deep-rooted problems, being rotten and left to erode.
Not only has Agar helped the Rhinos climb the table and win a trophy, but he's also brought through youngsters in the process. More players have come through the system during his time at the helm as had come through in the five seasons preceding him.
A bit like his appointment in the first place, Agar has done an unfashionable and unappreciated job. In his time in charge, he's dragged them from a dark place and given them hope of a brighter future.
The cruel irony is that this should have been the year when Agar was able to deliver on the hard work he'd put in. After more than two years of managing a messy salary cap. bringing youth players through the system and making some institutional changes, he was in a position to oversee a significant recruitment drive to take Leeds to the next level and put the final touches on his own squad.
Ultimately, those players have not been able to help deliver the results that were expected. James Bentley was sent off 16 minutes into his debut, David Fusitu'a has had nagging injury issues that have seen him struggle to gain form and both Blake Austin and Aidan Sezer have been painfully below the levels they need to be at. That has, in part, contributed to him losing his job. Unless the quartet finds form, the next person in charge will have another salary cap issue to sort out.
Looking at it now, Leeds are still a way off competing at the top of Super League. They are closer, but they are not there. That will hurt Agar more than anyone else.
But having overseen a difficult period of transition, Agar can leave proud of what he has achieved, even if many will resist acknowledging his accomplishments.
It's hard to predict what the future holds for the Rhinos, but in time, it's a fair assumption that Agar's tenure will be better appreciated as time goes on.
