Agar hails Handley response to England snub | Poching rues slow start

Richard Agar praised winger Ash Handley after he responded to his England snub with a hat-trick of tries to help Leeds Rhinos break their Super League duck with a win over Wakefield Trinity.

Handley was left out of England coach Shaun Wane's latest train-on squad in midweek but touched down twice in eight minutes towards the end of the first half to put his side into a 30-0 lead against the Rhinos' West Yorkshire rivals.

The 26-year-old completed his haul by scoring the visitors' only try of the second half at the Be Well Support Stadium as they ran out 34-18 winners and head coach Agar was impressed with how he responded to being overlooked this time around by Wane.

"That's the type of kid that Ash is," Agar said. "Rather than kick stones and sulk, he set his stall out to make his form as good as it can be and hope the coach will change his mind which he has done in the past.

"He's [Wane] always said he's going to pick on form and he's to be applauded for that. That's the challenge to a number of our guys. It was a great response from Ash tonight."

The Rhinos, who had lost their three opening matches, were boosted by the return of overseas duo Rhyse Martin and David Fusitu'a and a first appearance of the season by centre Harry Newman, with all three making their mark in the victory.

Fusitu'a, concussed on his Super League debut a month ago, scored his first try for the club and Newman capped an impressive display with a classy try before limping off six minutes into the second half, while Martin kicked five goals from seven attempts on his return from compassionate leave in Australia.

Agar, who withdrew Newman as a precaution after feeling his hamstring, was delighted to get off the mark.

"I understand we've had a