But he admits the return of experienced players will prove a timely boost in the second half of the season.

McClennan has given senior debuts to seven players this year, including Academy products Ben Jones-Bishop, Kallum Watkins, Danny Allan, Ben Kaye and Luke Burgess.

With players beginning to return from injury, those five were back in the reserves last weekend – playing their part in a 48-22 win over Wakefield – but McClennan insists the experience they have gained so far will prove invaluable.

Gareth Ellis and Ryan Bailey have both returned from injury over the past two games and Ali Lauitiiti could make his comeback at Bradford on Friday.

McClennan said: "It's really important to get the experienced players back. We are very, very proud of our young players, but it was time that they needed to go back to the Academy.

"They did really well on Friday night. They are better for the experience. Having the senior players come back gives us more physicality. Our younger guys are skilled, but they haven't got that physical presence yet.

"They will, in our system. They will get bigger and better and they will be better for the experience they've had, for next year.

"Who knows what's going to happen in a month's time anyway? We may need to use them again and I still think they'll be better for it."

McClennan feels Bailey's return from a four game absence, due to a knee injury, has given Leeds a lift.

"To have Bails back is great," he said. "We've missed him. For a prop, Ryan's got a big engine.

"He's full of running. I thought he slotted back in easily, with some nice offloads and quick play the balls."

Rhinos ran in 10 tries against Wakefield, several from long-distance, but McClennan said Leeds' forwards deserve as much credit as their backs.

"Our pack is what initiated the breaks in the first place," he said. "Most of our tries came up the middle third of the field and that's on the back of our pack going forward.

"After our kicks, some of our defence in the first three or four tackles was very good, probably the biggest thing we improved on over the past three or four weeks."

Meanwhile, the Yorkshire Evening Post understands Rhinos have not given up hope of keeping star full-back Brent Webb at the club.

Webb's contract expires at the end of the season and his agent has spoken to clubs in Super League and Australia's NRL, but the player told the YEP he is happy at Leeds and club officials are hopeful a new deal can be agreed.

Bulls centre/second-row Chris Nero will miss Friday's game after suffering a fractured collarbone early in yesterday's win at Castleford.
Joe Vagana, Shontayne Hape, Wayne Godwin and Dave Halley will all be back in contention for Bulls.

****

Rhinos' under-18 Academy side broke their duck with a 20-18 win at Hull. Rhinos' try scorers were John Elkington, Chris Clarkson, Joel Gill and Brooke Broughton, with Danny Lawton and Paul McShane each adding a goal.


****

Former Leeds coach Graham Murray has resigned at North Queensland Cowboys and ended his seven-year tenure at the Townsville club.

Ends