Back-rower Craig Newby scored the only try in a 14-9 triumph which took Tigers back to the top of the Guinness Premiership table.
“They are a hard team to play against and no-one gets an easy ride here,” said head coach Cockerill.
“Credit to Leeds, they battled hard, Hendre Fourie was hard over the ball, they are tough to break down, they stifle you and try to make you make mistakes.
“It is also hard to play on a surface as poor as that. It is probably the poorest I have seen in a decade.
“But the spirit and work-rate and the will to win were there from our players, they dug in and they’ve got the win and the four points. They worked really, really hard.”
Tigers were forced into a reshuffle when prop Julian White was ruled out with a slight calf injury and Robbie Harris came in for his first Premiership start at tighthead.
“Any team would miss Julian, Castro and Dan Cole, but credit to Robbie, he stuck at it, he did a good job and he’s come out on the winning side,” said Cockerill.
“Calum Green came in during the second half as a 19-year-old in the Guinness Premiership and did a really good job, and I’m delighted we’ve got the win.”
The Tigers head coach was also pleased to give Geordan Murphy and Anthony Allen some game-time from the bench after injury absences and the squad is now preparing for the return to home soil with the visit of Gloucester Rugby on Saturday (3pm).
“Gloucester had a really good win this weekend and we know we have to do better but we’ll be looking forward to getting back to Welford Road,” he said.
Tickets for the Gloucester encounter are on sale now from the Tigers ticket office. Phone 0844 856 1880, book online or call in at Welford Road.
