Rugby League: Leeds' mean, clean machine

The rumours are flying, and so are Murray's men.

THERE HAS been a distracting background noise accompanying the rise of Leeds over the past year. Graham Murray, whose side meet Bradford in a mouth-watering rugby league Challenge Cup semi-final today, has heard it as clearly as everyone else. It is an insistent hum to the effect that Leeds are just too strong, too aggressive; that the playing field is not quite level, that something shady is going on.

"I've heard those whispers," Murray said. "But when Wigan dominated the game for 10 years, people said they must be on something. When the Brisbane Broncos dominated in Australia, people said the same thing, or when Bradford a couple of years ago were playing over the top of everyone."

For the last 12 months, they have said it about Leeds. And, yes, Leeds are on something; but nothing illicit, according to the Rugby League's testing procedures. Since September, 12 Leeds players have been randomly tested for banned substances. None has been positive, although two results from a Cup tie at Widnes are still awaited. "Within the limits of our testing," a League spokesman said, "Leeds are clean."

Like other clubs, Leeds are taking dietary supplements, which are not on the banned list, even though the League has issued a notice advising against those that contain creatine. "Not every player is on the supplements," Murray said. "It is entirely up to each individual. The League has advised that there could be problems down the track. I've shown that letter to each player; after that it's their choice."

Murray insists that there is nothing sinister in this, comparing it to pineapples replacing oranges as a quicker fix of half-time energy, or pasta pushing steak off the menu. "It's a matter of keeping in step with what the game offers you." Murray believes that critics who look to pills and potions to explain Leeds' power and aggression are looking in the wrong place. "People ask me what I've done to these blokes. But it was always there; it just needed bringing out."

He points to a player like Darren Fleary - perhaps the most spectacularly improved performer in the game. "He's not a gifted footballer, but there's no better one-on-one, front-on hitter in the world. Players like him and Anthony Farrell, off the field they're gentlemen. On the field, they've got a little bit of a nasty streak. The worst players I've had to deal with have been the other way around. They want to be everyone's friend on the field and fight people after the game, but these are the opposite.

"You've got to work to your strengths and that means working to their aggressive nature. If I'd come here and said we were going to throw the ball around and not take too much notice of defence, I'd have had to throw half the pack out the window. We aren't the greatest football team in the world. We aren't even the best in Britain every time we run out, but there will always be plenty of spirit."

That is what some resent. Before he came to the club, a friend who had played against Leeds told Murray that they always folded if you gave them a rugged 20 minutes. He has turned that on its head. Other teams worry about surviving that onslaught now; and, well, they infer, it just ain't natural. "We've got a pretty good football team now - and there is a bit of jealousy. Like John Monie said, we've won nothing yet. People naturally look for trophies, but my aim is to leave the club in better shape."

His departure for North Sydney comes at the end of this season, leaving him with just two chances to break Leeds' trophy drought. If he succeeds, it will be due more to psychology than chemistry. As a high school maths teacher, he learned about gaining the class's attention. "My goal was to talk them into liking the subject. I'm a pretty organised person. If you weren't organised, the classroom was a shambles. It's the same with football."

If Leeds' class of 99 are the ones who succeed where so many others have failed, it will be because they have applied those lessons, not thanks to any magic formula.