Challenge Cup final - Myler tips Walker to bounce back from Wembley agony

Myler is set to feature at full-back when Rhinos face Salford Red Devils in Saturday’s Coral Challenge Cup final.

Walker, 21, began the campaign as Rhinos’ first-choice in the number one role, but when he suffered a fractured foot in February Myler took over and, despite not having played that position before, has been one of Leeds’ top performers ever since.

He is tipped to get the nod this weekend, but knows what it is like to miss a Wembley final after being left out of the Warrington Wolves team which beat Leeds in 20-10.

Speaking at an online press conference yesterday, Myler said: “Jack has a very old head on young shoulders, he has been around us for a few years now in this environment, he’s an unbelievable talent and an unbelievable player.

“He has had a big injury for eight months, but he is very much team-first as well and very much a team player and I’m sure he has a very very long future here at Leeds and in the game.”

Myler stressed: “I’ll be an ear to listen if he does want to vent some things, but I’m sure he might not want to at the moment in the close aftermath of it.

“Jack is an unbelievable talent - his first 80 minutes back he scored two tries and he has so much talent.

“It’s unfortunate he has had an injury and he misses out, but he’ll bounce back.”

Coach Richard Agar will name an initial 21-man squad today, but Rhinos’ players were informed of his selection yesterday.

“There was a couple of guys who didn’t get the greatest news or were told it might not be the greatest news for them,” Myler said.

“It’s awful, it feels like the end of the world when you’re in the moment.

“It happened to me three days before the final in 2010, which is never good.

“You can look at it one or two ways once the dust settles. You see that you learn from it and why it happens.

“It’s a learning curve, if not a nice one. Nobody wants it but rugby league is a rollercoaster.

“I don’t think you ever have medium days; you have extreme highs and sadly some very deep lows, but those boys will bounce back.

“They are very, very talented and as a team we have been squad-oriented all year around.

“That’s our focus and our mantra really, it’s team first. No matter what position you play, who’s in the team whose not, it’s a squad effort.

“I know it’s a bit of a cliche, but that’s what it is especially with the current climate and amount of games coming around thick and fast.

“It’s all a learning curve and I’m sure those boys that have had news will bounce back very quickly.”

Leeds appearing at Wembley seemed unlikely at the start of this year - and Myler playing full-back was even more unexpected.

“2020’s throwing all sorts of shapes up isn’t it,” he reflected. “It’s a different year all right.

“Full-back is very similar to how I’ve played half-back most of my career anyway and I think it helps having Luke [Gale] and Rob [Lui] in those vital positions; their control and leadership kind of lets me do me.

I’m enjoying it, happy to be contributing to the team and the main goal is getting the win.”

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Laura Collins