MERRIN: PLAYERS HAVE TO ‘OWN’ RHINOS’ FAILURE

vBetfred Super League, 7.45pm

TRENT MERRIN says Leeds Rhinos players need to take ownership of the crisis engulfing the club.

The eight-time Grand Final winners are two points off the foot of Super League, sacked coach David Furner after just 15 games and were dumped out of the Challenge Cup by Championship Bradford.

Tonight marks the opening of the new North Stand at their redeveloped Headingley home, but matters on the field have become more pressing.

And former Australia international Merrin has urged his team-mates to take responsibility for the position the club is in. He said: “It’s been a tough few weeks losing Dave as a coach, but it’s the hierarchy that make decisions.

“Sometimes you don’t get that bounce back after a coach leaves – what people do not understand is it affects players as well.

“It is an emotional roller-coaster, going from being coached by one coach for five months and then jumping straight into something new.

“It’s a process and that’s what we’re working on, we have got to take ownership of it.”

Despite only promoted London Broncos sitting below them in the table, Merrin insists there has been no talk of the threat of relegation, which is automatic for the bottom club in Super League this year.

He added: “We have been through a lot of challenges, but we are not fighting relegation at the moment.

“We’ve still got 16 games to go, so there is a big chunk of the season left.

“It’s up to us and how we deliver.”