New Leeds trio not just there to make up the numbers

James Gordon
Leeds trio Luis Roberts, Luke Hooley and Leon Ruan

Photos: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com

Leeds start the season with some headaches in the centre position and it might mean an early chance for one of their new signings.

With front-line pair Nene Macdonald and Harry Newman ruled out of the season opener against Warrington, Rohan Smith has a decision to make about who starts in his three-quarter line.

One option in front of him is new signing Luis Roberts, who moved to Headingley from Leigh in a surprise off-season move.

Luis Roberts, 20, is a Wales international who came through the ranks at Salford and has had spells with Swinton and Widnes.

He has played in Super League before, albeit only once and in a very unusual match against Warrington where both sides played weakened sides ahead of a Challenge Cup semi-final.

Speaking ahead of the season, Luis Roberts said: “It’s been a great move for me. I feel like I’ve progressed quite a lot in my career already. It was quite a big shock to me (when Leeds came in) but it definitely boosted my confidence. I had a few offers and when my agent rang and told me about Leeds I went silent for a good minute, because I was just shocked.

“It has helped (having other lads in same situation), but club has helped too because they know what we need and that’s why we’ve come here.

“Training is completely different, we’re getting worked hard which is what I want, and it’s making me a better player. There’s no serious pressure from Rohan, he just wants me to go out there if I do play and smash it.”

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From training deal to verge of Super League debut

Another recruit from the lower leagues, Leon Ruan signed from Doncaster, could also be a contender to make an unlikely debut depending on how Smith decides to fill the void left by Macdonald and Newman.

They are both part of an interesting recruitment strategy from the Rhinos, which has also seen the addition of full-back Luke Hooley from Batley and back-rower Toby Warren from York, also from the Championship.

For Ruan, he has already spent a bit more time under the tutelage of Smith, having joined on a train-only deal from Doncaster midway through last season.

He continued to play for the Dons in League 1, making a total of 23 appearances in 2022, and has dropped nine kilograms in weight to be a leaner proposition for the Rhinos.

Ruan said: “I’m part of the first team squad, if I am called upon, I have to do the job. I’ve got a three-year deal, so it’s just about being ready whenever I am selected, and obviously I want to be in the team as fast as possible.

“I think starting last year helps, it means there’s not that initial transition, I’m not coming in fresh, so I’ve been able to go 100% from the get go.

“I’d like to make my Super League debut but it’s no good just making one game, I’d like to make a few appearances if possible but time will tell if that happens.”

Hooley must wait to prove his worth

Unfortunately for Hooley, an ankle injury sustained in pre-season will rule him out of the first period of the season.

He has been a stand out in the Championship for Batley in the past two seasons and is eager to make an impact, insisting he is not just there to make up the numbers.

Although the move to Leeds might be seen as a no brainer, for Hooley he had to consider what many part-time players do when considering the jump to Super League and full time rugby.

Hooley said: “I’ve done enough to get the chance again, but it was a tough time as had to think about a lot of things. My missus was pregnant at the time, we’d just got the house and I was settled with my job. So I had a lot of things to think about whether to leave the job and juggle everything.

“The opportunity to come to Leeds is something not everyone gets, people dream of it and you can’t turn it down – and it’s the best thing I’ve done.

“I’m not a kid anymore. I’m 24. I’ve been through the academy system, I’ve worked my way up to first team and didn’t get any game time; so when I signed, I said I don’t want to come as a young kid, I want to be at the door where I’m ready to have a crack at Super League.

“This is what you want as a job. This isn’t a job. People don’t realise what you’ve got here. It’s something special. Especially when you’ve grown up supporting Leeds, it’s a bonus.”

Richie Myler has the number one shirt for Leeds this year, who made the decision to part ways with Zak Hardaker in the off-season – something some fans are calling in to question given their opening round struggles to fill the centre berths.

Myler is 33 this season, and that may open a door for Hooley to establish himself as the first choice Leeds full-back in years to come. It’s an opportunity that didn’t seem like it would come up this decade, given the long-term deals handed out in previous years to Jack Walker (now at Bradford) and Ashton Golding (now at Huddersfield).

And Batley coach Craig Lingard thinks the extra year Hooley spent with Batley, instead of making the jump to Super League 12 months ago, will hold him in good stead.

Lingard said: “The development he’s shown looking at his stats, they’ve grown incrementally, the numbers he was pulling in with tries, try assists, metres he was making, the chances he were creating they were through the roof. If he’d gone to Super League the year before he’d have missed out on that year’s worth of development playing continuous regular rugby league against blokes in a real tough competition.

“I think Championship is a real competitive, tough game. I think some young kids that maybe don’t make it in Super League at 18 or 19 think ‘I’m not going to lower myself to drop down to the Championship’ but it’s a tough league.

“Look at Luke, he’s come as a young kid, played week in, week out in a Championship environment, getting better and better, and then jumps back in to a full time environment and will hopefully see that same trajectory again.”

Luis Roberts and Leon Ruan are two of six new signings in Smith’s squad for the trip to Warrington, alongside Sam Lisone (Gold Coast Titans), James McDonnell (Wigan), Derrell Olpherts (Castleford) and Justin Sangare (Toulouse).

PLAY: Pick Luis Roberts, Luke Hooley or Leon Ruan in your Fantasy Rugby League team – free to play now!

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