WATCH: Kruise Leeming supports break to score first NRL try in second appearance

Josh McAllister
Kruise Leeming

Kruise Leeming scored his first NRL try for new club Gold Coast Titans during the side’s 43-26 defeat to Brisbane Broncos. 

The ex-Leeds and Huddersfield hooker made his debut from the bench in the 20-18 win over St George Illawarra Dragons as a late call-up by head coach Justin Holbrook.

Leeming, 27, had only landed in Australia that week, but enjoyed a solid opening hit out, playing 30 minutes, making 37 run metres, 39 passes and 12 tackles.

It was also his first appearance since playing for the Rhinos in March, having later requested an early release from Headingley Stadium to pursue the move Down Under.

Leeming again came on from the bench against NRL leaders Brisbane, who have now claimed six wins in seven.

Following the defeat, the Gold Coast Titans sit 10th on the table, with a record of three wins and three losses.

WATCH: Kruise Leeming scores first NRL try

Despite down to 12 men with captain Tino Fa’asuamaleaui in the sin-bin, the Titans managed to break through centre Brian Kelly, with Leeming in support to score his first four-pointer in his new colours to make the score 36-20. 

However, further tries from Ezra Mam and Selwyn Cobbo secured the victory for Kevin Walters’ side.

Leeming crosses 3:15 into NRL’s official highlights. 

In his second appearance, Leeming made 33 minutes from the bench, with Chris Randall starting at hooker.

A new Titan

Leeming became the 183rd different player to play for Gold Coast Titans since they joined the NRL in the 2007.

Previous players to have gone from Super League to play for the Titans include Richie Mathers, Joe Greenwood, Kallum Watkins and Dan Sarginson.

Mathers made six appearances in Gold Coast’s first season in 2017, while Watkins made eight appearances in 2019/20 after joining from Leeds.

Sarginson featured five times in between his stints at Wigan, with only Greenwood being a regular – he made 22 appearances in the 2017 campaign, his only season in the NRL, before he returned to Super League with Wigan.

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