Interim-coach Richard Agar traces Leeds Rhinos’ progress beyond the last two weeks as he welcomes back fit-again forward Stevie Ward into the selection mix to face St Helens

Leeds Rhinos' upturn in form over the last few weeks has delighted interim-coach Richard Agar - but he's refusing to rest on his laurels. PIC: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com

LEEDS RHINOS have turned a corner, interim-coach Richard Agar believes, but not in the last two weeks.

Rhinos will go into tomorrow’s home game against Betfred Super League leaders St Helens on the back of successive big wins over Huddersfield Giants and Catalans Dragons.

Rhinos have won six and lost five of their 11 Super League games under Agar since he took charge three months ago and – based on the last six rounds – are fourth in the form table, behind Wigan Warriors, Saints and Salford Red Devils.

When they went bottom of Super League in June, following Hull KR’s surprise win over Hull, the situation looked bleak, but Leeds are now up to eighth and four points clear of the relegation zone.

Fit-again forward, Stevie Ward, is back in the Leeds Rhinos selection mix. PIC: Isabel Pearce/SWpix.com

The past two victories, when they scored 92 points and conceded only eight, have also boosted Rhinos’ points difference, which could yet prove crucial, but Agar doesn’t regard performances so far in August as a turning point, insisting “I think we turned a corner a while ago.”

He said: “Within that you do get some down weeks – we had one against Hull KR – but, in saying that, you are doing a disservice to the opposition.

“They played great that night.

“Then we lost to Hull and the rhetoric from us, as a coaching staff, was we understand why we got beat.