There was nothing glamorous. It was a derby in the truest sense, at times scruffy, heavy, tense, and full of those little moments that only matter in local rugby league. But for Rob Roberts, back at East Leeds barely a month, it meant everything.
“It was a tough game,” he said. “I thought our middles were outstanding. Again, Railton played 80 minutes and Mullen played 70 minutes. So, you know, it was huge for us to control the middle, really.”
That middle effort was the backbone of the night. But the spark came from Kane Riley, who started at six, ended up at nine, and still came up with the two tries that swung the derby.
“Kane going into a different position and controlling the ruck for us and getting them that 2 tries for us…yeah, it was really good,” Roberts said, laughing as he added: “He’ll let us know as well that’s the difference.”
East Leeds have been doing it tough for weeks - suspensions, injuries, players unavailable, and teenagers thrown into the deep end. Roberts didn’t hide from that reality.
“We had three young 17-year-old kids on the bench tonight as well and one of them got injured,” he said. “So we’re doing it tough a minute with injuries and suspension…but we keep churning these teams out and we keep going up against it.”
And yet, this felt different, very different from that patched up performance a few weeks ago at Kells.
“I thought that was more like it tonight,” he agreed.
Roberts’ return to the club wasn’t planned. There was no big announcement. It was instinct.
“The (previous) coach stepped down,” he explained. “So I know I always put my hand up. It’s my old club up at East Leeds so I always put my hand up to come back and help them out.”
There’s no pretending with him. East Leeds shaped him, and he’s determined to give that back.
“I give everything for this club,” he said. “They really helped me out when I was younger and got me to where I got to and always give back to the club.”
Rob is a coach who knows the next few weeks matter. Suspended players are close to returning. Injuries are clearing. The squad is slowly knitting back together.
“I think we’re fifth now,” he said. “We’ve got Oulton next week. And I think the week after we get the two suspensions done. And then we’ve got a few players coming back from injury. So we’ll be nearly at full strength in the next five, six games.”
Is a Play-Off charge building?
NCRL National Leagues - Results:
Premier Division
Hunslet ARLFC 12 Thatto Heath Crusaders 24
Lock Lane 30 Heworth 48
Siddal 12 West Hull 14
West Bowling 82 Rochdale Mayfield 14
Wigan St Judes 14 Waterhead Warriors 34
Division One
Dewsbury Moor Maroons 38 Oldham St Annes 0
Egremont Rangers 28 Dewsbury Celtic 22
Kells 26 Leigh Miners Rangers 10
Stanningley 14 Oulton Raiders 28
Wigan St Patricks 64 Pilkington Recs 12
Shaw Cross Sharks 18 East Leeds 22
National Conference – Yorkshire A
Beverley 26 Thornhill Trojans 24
Drighlington 12 Mirfield Spartans 26
King Cross Park 42 Myton Warriors 22
Moldgreen 16 Keighley Albion 22
National Conference – Yorkshire B
Featherstone Lions 34 Milford 10
Fryston Warriors 32 Bentley 12
Hull Dockers 16 Siddal Academy 32
Kippax Welfare 18 Skirlaugh 20
Normanton Knights 26 Newsome Panthers 50
National Conference – North West
Ashton Bears 18 Blackbrook 10
Ince Rose Bridge 56 Woolston Rovers 30
Saddleworth Rangers 48 Clock Face Miners 0
Orrell St James 28 Crosfields 12
National Conference – Cumbria
Dalton 40 Distington 22
Ellenborough 40 Seaton Rangers 12
Hensingham 18 Barrow Island 21
Millom 32 Maryport 10
National Conference – South
Bedford Tigers 36 Bristol All Golds 16
Hammersmith Hills Hoists 47 Eastern Rhinos 0
London Chargers 16 Wests Warriors 18
