A Brad start

NEW BOSS ARTHUR'S PAIN

- ROSS HEPPENSTALL

LEEDS..........12

HULL KR...... 20

BRAD ARTHUR'S first game in charge of Leeds ended in a defeat which left the eight-time Super League champions staring at another year of failure.

The Rhinos led 12-10 before late tries from Jai Whitbread and Jez Litten nudged Hull KR closer to the play-offs and had their huge army of fans dreaming of a maiden Grand Final appearance.

For Leeds, though, it was a case of new coach, same old story as errors proved costly making a top-six play-off finish an increasingly tall order.

Aussie Arthur, who spent a decade at NRL outfit Parramatta before being sacked in May, arrived last week to succeed axed Rohan Smith.

Leeds lie four points behind sixth-placed Salford and Arthur said: "It's disappointing for the players and our fans.