Rugby League Coaching Manuals

Huddersfield v Leeds Rhinos - Galpharm Stadium
Salford v Harlequins - The Stoop  

By Ian Laybourn - Huddersfield coach Nathan Brown is adamant that his side now have the belief to beat Engage Super League champions Leeds Rhinos, who take on the in-form Giants at the Galpharm Stadium on Sunday.

Brown accused his players of lacking self belief when they lost 36-4 in the corresponding fixture last season but they pushed the champions all the way in the return game at Headingley as they went on to secure a best-ever third-place Super League finish.

The Giants go into Sunday's game above the Rhinos in the table and, with confidence soaring following their 52-0 win at Wakefield, have high hopes of securing only their second win over Leeds in the Super League era.

"Nobody is getting carried away," said Brown.

"Wakefield are a good side but Leeds Rhinos have been the champions for the last three seasons and they have a side that is full of international players.

"It is sure to be a good challenge but I think we will have taken confidence out of our performance last weekend.

"This time last year we played Leeds and at that point I don't think we quite had the belief that we could beat them, whereas this time we have genuine belief that we are in with a chance of turning them over.

"That doesn't mean it will necessarily be the case but having that belief is a good sign that we are moving forward as a club."

Brown's men had the best defensive record in Super League in 2009 and have kept their tryline in intact in two of their last three matches but Leeds coach Brian McClennan has also been impressed with their new-found attacking flair.

"They have a very good defence record and are in better defensive form than us at the moment so we have to get out there and make it tough for them and ask some questions of their defence," he said.

"We are pretty happy with the way we are heading and it's a bit 50/50. You've got to attack well and you've got to be strong in defence too.

"That's something Huddersfield have done really well. Their attacking structure is very good and they've really improved from last year so we know we are going to have to defend very well."

Salford v Harlequins

Salford are involved in a basement battle for the second successive week when they go to Harlequins and coach Shaun McRae is hoping this time they can come out on top.

Last week's home defeat by Catalans Dragons, who turned around a 58-0 hammering by Wigan, left the Reds still searching for their first points of the season and McRae is not expecting tomorrow's game against the Londoners to be made any easier by their 62-4 rout at Leeds.

"It's two weeks in a row that we've played sides that have been soundly beaten and had a lot of points put on them," he said.

"As I expected last week, Catalans came out with a response.

"Harlequins look like a side with quite a few guys missing at the moment but it's one of those grounds where it's always tough to go. Harlequins always tend to play well there."

McRae had kept faith with his players following their encouraging performances against Leeds and Bradford but admits he may need to make changes as the defeats begin to pile up.

"We've just got to get our levels back to where they were when we played Leeds and Bradford," he said.

"For some reason last week we lacked energy and intensity. It was just not the same side and maybe those two matches took plenty out of us.

"We certainly need to perform better and be desperate for that victory."