Arthur tips star for England recall ahead of Ashes

The Advertiser

9 hours ago

Leeds head coach Brad Arthur has backed Jake Connor to make his England return after the Rhinos half-back produced another dazzling display in the Rhinos' richly entertaining 48-30 win over Leigh at Headingley.
Connor kicked eight from eight conversions and set up the final try for Mikolaj Oledzki just three days before Shaun Wane names his performance squad ahead of the Autumn Ashes against Australia.
Despite stern competition from the likes of Wigan's Harry Smith and Hull KR hero Mikey Lewis, Arthur believes Connor ought to be in the reckoning for his first England appearance since 2018.
The former Parramatta mentor said: "I think he's probably done enough to get a mention. We've got a quite a good representation in there and if the boys keep playing well it only enhances Jake's opportunities."
Asked if the often confrontational Connor is the kind of player whom the Australians might fear having to face, the Sydney-born Arthur grinned before respoding: "I'm pretty happy with Jake's behaviour on the field.
"He's been very discreet when he's having a little niggle, and he's doing a pretty good job of hiding it."
Leeds' eight-try show was exactly what Arthur ordered after last week's painful loss at St Helens, and he conceded he was prepared to overlook some of the defensive frailties in a remarkably open 14-try affair.
"You can sit here and be negative and talk about the defence of both teams but that sort of game is what the fans want to see, lots of tries and great skill on show," added Arthur.
"We came here to have a response from last week and go after the game and we did that, so that's all I'm worried about. It was fourth versus third and we jumped a spot there.
"We've done a lot of nice things. Overall we're trying to grow the game and it's what people want to see. I'll put it down to a nice win."
Leigh's defeat came at a price as head coach Adrian Lam revealed full-back David Armstrong and winger Darnell McIntosh are set to miss the upcoming games against leading duo Wigan and Hull KR after aggravating knee injuries at Headingley.
Armstrong, who started the game heavily strapped, required lengthy treatment after 15 minutes and was eventually withdrawn at half-time before McIntosh, who temporarily replaced him at the back, was struck by a similar problem.
"(Armstrong) will be out for a couple of weeks now," confirmed Lam. "He's had a bit of a knee injury, and with McIntosh it's the same thing with the knee, and I think he'll (also) be out for a couple of weeks."
Lam was less enamoured with the open nature of the game than Arthur, but conceded he could have expected little more after a gruelling week in the wake of last week's tiring win over Catalans Dragons in France.
"It was a weird game - we looked lethargic from last week in that heat," he said. "It was a short turnaround and it looked like we hadn't played together at times tonight.
"I think the fans got their money's worth (but) some of the things we were doing in the game were just uncharacteristic. Having said that, we scored some very good tries and didn't give up."
Leeds head coach Brad Arthur has backed Jake Connor to make his England return after the Rhinos half-back produced another dazzling display in the Rhinos' richly entertaining 48-30 win over Leigh at Headingley.
Connor kicked eight from eight conversions and set up the final try for Mikolaj Oledzki just three days before Shaun Wane names his performance squad ahead of the Autumn Ashes against Australia.
Despite stern competition from the likes of Wigan's Harry Smith and Hull KR hero Mikey Lewis, Arthur believes Connor ought to be in the reckoning for his first England appearance since 2018.
The former Parramatta mentor said: "I think he's probably done enough to get a mention. We've got a quite a good representation in there and if the boys keep playing well it only enhances Jake's opportunities."
Asked if the often confrontational Connor is the kind of player whom the Australians might fear having to face, the Sydney-born Arthur grinned before respoding: "I'm pretty happy with Jake's behaviour on the field.
"He's been very discreet when he's having a little niggle, and he's doing a pretty good job of hiding it."
Leeds' eight-try show was exactly what Arthur ordered after last week's painful loss at St Helens, and he conceded he was prepared to overlook some of the defensive frailties in a remarkably open 14-try affair.
"You can sit here and be negative and talk about the defence of both teams but that sort of game is what the fans want to see, lots of tries and great skill on show," added Arthur.
"We came here to have a response from last week and go after the game and we did that, so that's all I'm worried about. It was fourth versus third and we jumped a spot there.
"We've done a lot of nice things. Overall we're trying to grow the game and it's what people want to see. I'll put it down to a nice win."
Leigh's defeat came at a price as head coach Adrian Lam revealed full-back David Armstrong and winger Darnell McIntosh are set to miss the upcoming games against leading duo Wigan and Hull KR after aggravating knee injuries at Headingley.
Armstrong, who started the game heavily strapped, required lengthy treatment after 15 minutes and was eventually withdrawn at half-time before McIntosh, who temporarily replaced him at the back, was struck by a similar problem.
"(Armstrong) will be out for a couple of weeks now," confirmed Lam. "He's had a bit of a knee injury, and with McIntosh it's the same thing with the knee, and I think he'll (also) be out for a couple of weeks."
Lam was less enamoured with the open nature of the game than Arthur, but conceded he could have expected little more after a gruelling week in the wake of last week's tiring win over Catalans Dragons in France.
"It was a weird game - we looked lethargic from last week in that heat," he said. "It was a short turnaround and it looked like we hadn't played together at times tonight.
"I think the fans got their money's worth (but) some of the things we were doing in the game were just uncharacteristic. Having said that, we scored some very good tries and didn't give up."
Leeds head coach Brad Arthur has backed Jake Connor to make his England return after the Rhinos half-back produced another dazzling display in the Rhinos' richly entertaining 48-30 win over Leigh at Headingley.
Connor kicked eight from eight conversions and set up the final try for Mikolaj Oledzki just three days before Shaun Wane names his performance squad ahead of the Autumn Ashes against Australia.
Despite stern competition from the likes of Wigan's Harry Smith and Hull KR hero Mikey Lewis, Arthur believes Connor ought to be in the reckoning for his first England appearance since 2018.
The former Parramatta mentor said: "I think he's probably done enough to get a mention. We've got a quite a good representation in there and if the boys keep playing well it only enhances Jake's opportunities."
Asked if the often confrontational Connor is the kind of player whom the Australians might fear having to face, the Sydney-born Arthur grinned before respoding: "I'm pretty happy with Jake's behaviour on the field.
"He's been very discreet when he's having a little niggle, and he's doing a pretty good job of hiding it."
Leeds' eight-try show was exactly what Arthur ordered after last week's painful loss at St Helens, and he conceded he was prepared to overlook some of the defensive frailties in a remarkably open 14-try affair.
"You can sit here and be negative and talk about the defence of both teams but that sort of game is what the fans want to see, lots of tries and great skill on show," added Arthur.
"We came here to have a response from last week and go after the game and we did that, so that's all I'm worried about. It was fourth versus third and we jumped a spot there.
"We've done a lot of nice things. Overall we're trying to grow the game and it's what people want to see. I'll put it down to a nice win."
Leigh's defeat came at a price as head coach Adrian Lam revealed full-back David Armstrong and winger Darnell McIntosh are set to miss the upcoming games against leading duo Wigan and Hull KR after aggravating knee injuries at Headingley.
Armstrong, who started the game heavily strapped, required lengthy treatment after 15 minutes and was eventually withdrawn at half-time before McIntosh, who temporarily replaced him at the back, was struck by a similar problem.
"(Armstrong) will be out for a couple of weeks now," confirmed Lam. "He's had a bit of a knee injury, and with McIntosh it's the same thing with the knee, and I think he'll (also) be out for a couple of weeks."
Lam was less enamoured with the open nature of the game than Arthur, but conceded he could have expected little more after a gruelling week in the wake of last week's tiring win over Catalans Dragons in France.
"It was a weird game - we looked lethargic from last week in that heat," he said. "It was a short turnaround and it looked like we hadn't played together at times tonight.
"I think the fans got their money's worth (but) some of the things we were doing in the game were just uncharacteristic. Having said that, we scored some very good tries and didn't give up."