Leeds Rhinos forward James McDonnell looks back on the Challenge Cup defeat by St Helens and forward to Thursday's derby at Castleford Tigers.
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00:00 It's a bit of a disappointment to be out of the Challenge Cup.
00:03 Some positives from the performance, do you think?
00:06 Yeah, some positives. We stuck together.
00:09 We stuck together and we were fighting until the last death of the game.
00:14 That's a positive. We didn't spit the rum here.
00:16 We didn't really argue much between ourselves.
00:20 We just stayed together, connected as a unit.
00:22 That's something that will put us in good stead for the rest of the year, I suppose.
00:25 You've played one of the two top teams twice running now
00:29 and competed with them for most of the game.
00:31 Do you take positives out of that for the rest of the season?
00:34 Yeah, of course. The performance wasn't there today.
00:37 It was a poor performance as far as the team is concerned,
00:41 as far as the players are concerned.
00:43 To not play to our best, we've got levels that we can get to.
00:47 We've got a couple of levels that we can step it up, definitely.
00:51 To play like that and obviously still be competitive in that game,
00:56 that's some positives.
00:58 You're still searching for an 80-minute performance, aren't you?
01:01 It's been a bit of a fix and start so far this year.
01:04 Yeah, obviously last week we came finally out of the box
01:07 and we couldn't have put that 480 together this week.
01:09 Similar, we only started 2-0 this week,
01:12 but we've kind of just stayed in the way for the 480,
01:15 which isn't our DNA. It's not what we want to be.
01:17 We want to be as soon as we step on that field, we're on.
01:20 We're on and we can see a game out.
01:22 We can consistently play 80-minute games.
01:25 Certainly, there's no problem with the spirit and determination
01:29 and team spirit working for each other.
01:31 Yeah, exactly. There's no concerns as far as that is the spirit in the group,
01:38 there's belief within the group and the skill to get the points.
01:41 We just need to execute better and be as one when it comes to the shape of the attack.
01:49 All that kind of stuff. I think it was mainly our defence that was down tonight.
01:52 We gave up too many easy metres and we couldn't get on the front foot to attack
01:56 and to show that attacking power is something we've got.
01:59 Short turnaround to catch on Thursday.
02:02 Scars.
02:02 I'm starting to think about that, yeah.
02:03 But it's a big game, isn't it? We need to get back on the horse.
02:06 It is definitely. Travelling to Cass, top game, always is to travel there to play at the junior league.
02:11 But yeah, we just want to be back on the field, to be honest.
02:15 I think we want to put some damage away and definitely got an opportunity there through the next week at Cass.
02:19 Obviously, they're struggling a bit in the league, but you can't look into that.
02:24 It was the same situation a couple of times last year when they turned you over.
02:27 Yeah, we'll look at them all the time. They're just focusing on us.
02:30 We'll focus on what we need to do to get them reviewed and look at their game.
02:33 But we'll be mainly going out there to put a few rounds right on our end.
02:39 How about you? You've got to leave, obviously, that knockout at the start of the season.
02:43 Do you feel you're starting to get back into it?
02:45 Yeah, I've just got to keep my way back in. I didn't get a couple of eight-minute performances under my belt,
02:51 but we just played 38% of the time. It was a tough team there for 80 minutes back-to-back.
02:56 So I think it's going to take them a game for them to come back in,
02:58 but instead to be kicking on now and just really enhancing and bringing my game to another level.
03:04 Yeah, you'll have to do that, won't you, with the competition for places?
03:06 Obviously, Macca's was left out today, but he's pushing for a new run.
03:13 Yeah, I'm really strong and training's difficult that way.
03:16 So I really wouldn't have it any easier playing. I wouldn't be able to come play.
03:20 Obviously, I've still not got that starting back row number, which is my aim and that's where I want to be.
03:26 Even if it's, it doesn't matter what number's on your shirt, that's where I want to be.
03:31 Week in, week out, I'll be starting in that back row.
03:33 I'll play a bit of versatile if I need to. I'll play wherever I'm put.
03:37 As long as I can be on that field and contribute to something.
03:40 You threw your own way ahead of where you were this time last year. You're established.
03:44 I know you say you haven't got the number, but you're sort of established to the starting line.
03:48 Yeah, I just want to be in that bracket where Roman can't really leave me out of the team.
03:53 He needs to find a way to get me in that team somehow, which is where I want to be.
03:58 If it's starting in the back row, it's coming off the bench in the middle, moving to the back row, wherever it may be.
04:04 Yeah, I just want that opportunity wherever I'm in it.