'Leeds Rhinos proved me wrong', Phil Clarke tells Sky Sports News
Tuesday 29 December 2015 17:23, UK
Phil Clarke praised Leeds for learning from their mistakes in their treble-winning season and says Zak Hardaker is "invaluable".
The pundit told Sky Sports News that the Rhinos' ability to stay calm under pressure is what drove them to success in 2015, admitting the club proved him wrong at the end of the season.
Last year, Leeds were unable to deliver a treble despite being in a strong position, but showed this season that the experience improved their mentality in 2015.
"They've been able to learn from their mistakes," said Clarke.
"They were in a similar situation last year when they won the Challenge Cup Final and then everything fell apart but the reason why Brian McDermott and the club have been the benchmark in Super League for the last decade is because when they get something wrong they make sure it only happens once.
"To win a treble in a team sport is an amazing achievement nowadays and Leeds deserve all of the credit."
"The following year they rectified that and they clearly showed, even though I wrote them off actually towards the end of the season - I said they wouldn't win another game - they proved me wrong with a remarkable comeback with Ryan Hall's try at Huddersfield.
"To win a treble in a team sport is an amazing achievement nowadays and Leeds deserve all of the credit."
In their final game of the season, Rhinos were locked at 16-16 with Huddersfield with less than a minute remaining. A draw for Leeds would have seen Wigan take the League Leaders Shield, but despite being deep inside their own half, Leeds managed to break out to score a try through Ryan Hall.
"Leeds' ability to come from behind in the last 20 minutes of games isn't a recent phenomenon," said Clarke. "They've done it for several years.
"In round one of this year they were behind at Hull Kingston Rovers, came back with two late tries to win. They did it again at Huddersfield and they proved they could do it in the Grand Final.
"They are never written off and they don't panic when they are in a tight situation."
Clarke believes the Super League champions were inspired by the hard work and talent of Man of Steel Zak Hardaker.
"There are a lot of players in the Super League who are very athletic - they are fast, they are brave, but I think what he has is the ability to change direction without losing speed.
"So many of his tries, he looks like a downhill slalom skier who moves from one side to the other to evade the tackle and then ride through it.
"The other thing he has is great balance. When somebody gets close to him and makes some contact it doesn't knock him over and that's probably the unique element he brings.
"His intelligence to put himself in the right position at the right time has been invaluable and he was one of the reasons why Leeds did win all three trophies.
"He has played some of his career on the wing, some at centre and some at full-back and I think versatility has helped him to learn where to be at his most dangerous."
It was a fairytale ending at Leeds for captain Kevin Sinfield, Jamie Peacock and Kylie Leuluai but Clarke believes the club will somehow manage to be even better next year.
"They have developed a brand of rugby that is so dangerous. It is brilliant to watch, it is unpredictable, it is unrehearsed.
"The tries they score are so natural that it is hard for teams to defend against them and I think that style of rugby under the leadership of Brian McDermott will only continue to get better.
"Of course players like Kevin Sinfield, Jamie Peacock and Kylie Leulua will be missed but Leeds' senior management have proved over the last few years that they get nine out 10 decisions right, whether that be the coach Brian McDermott or the chief executive Gary Hetherington.
"On the basis that they are going to make more good decisions than bad ones I think they will only be even stronger."
