Back's Leeds have conceded 51 points in their last two games

Leeds head coach Neil Back says trying to secure Premiership survival for Carnegie is the toughest challenge of his rugby career.

Sunday's 22-5 defeat by relegation rivals Newcastle leaves Leeds seven points adrift from Premiership safety with eight games remaining.

Back told BBC Radio Leeds: "Without doubt this is the biggest challenge of my career. I have a massive job to do.

"But until it's over I, the players and the management will keep fighting."

The West Yorkshire outfit slumped to the their 13th defeat of the league season on Sunday night at Headingley.

Newcastle's Jimmy Gopperth kicked 12 points in the match and controlled the game with his tactical kicking.

Back defended his decision to play a non-kicking fly-half in Lachlan Mackay, instead of Adrian Jarvis.

"We as a management team, and also with the leaders in the side, looked long and hard at the best combinations to take on this opposition.

"I took their views into consideration but it was my decision. We felt after consulting the leaders in the team that this was the best backline to take on Newcastle.

"We will never know if a different selection would have worked better or not.

"The players are not letting me down. They still have belief of winning games and staying up, even after this defeat.

"It will be harder now, but we are still confident we can get the points we need to stay in the Premiership.

"I have a big job but that's what I'm paid to do. That's where my passion is. My playing career was a challenge and this is a challenge.

"To turn it around from here will be an even bigger achievement now."

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