Experience with Leeds Rhinos proving invaluable to Harry Newman

Newman played in this month’s narrow defeats by St Helens and Catalans Dragons, but has dropped out of the initial 19-man squad for tomorrow’s Betfred Super League game at Wigan Warriors.

The 18-year-old has yet to taste victory in the top-flight, after four senior appearances, but insisted his time on the field at the top level will be invaluable in the future.

“I’ve really enjoyed the experience,” said the youngster, who was one of five academy-qualified players in the side beaten by Catalans a week ago.

“It has been a good year for me so far, being on loan at Featherstone and being given an opportunity (for Leeds) the last two weeks.

“I thought I had a solid performance against St Helens.

“Saints are top of the league and to come up against the England centre (Mark Percival), I thought I did all right.

“Against Catalans I made a couple of errors, but I’ll learn from them and I’ll be looking to push on from here.

“I felt a bit nervous before the St Helens game, but then I felt more confident going into the Catalans game and the more games I play the better I’ll get and I’ll have more confidence in myself.”

Newman was the first player born this century to appear in Super League when he made his debut away to Wigan last year.

He was promoted into Rhinos’ full-time squad this season and played in the defeat at Widnes Vikings in February before scoring nine tries in eight appearances for Featherstone.

Rovers are third in the Betfred Championship and Newman said playing there has brought his game on.

“It has really benefited me, the physicality side of it especially,” he said.

“I am getting used to playing against fully-grown men each week.”

Newman’s first two games for Leeds were as a winger, but he has been in the centres for the past two matches and stressed that is where he feels at home.

“I’ve been playing at centre for Featherstone and been given the opportunity to play there now for Leeds,” he said. “I think that’s my strongest position.”

Newman’s chance came because of Rhinos’ injury crisis which has claimed centres Kallum Watkins and Jimmy Keinhorst and forced Liam Sutcliffe to move into the halves when Richie Myler was sidelined.

Watkins will miss the rest of the season following a knee reconstruction, but Newman described the Leeds captain as “a great inspiration for me”.

He said: “He is one of the best centres in the world. I’ve been doing extras with him at training and he’s injured now but he’s still helping me out.”

Myler’s return from concussion tomorrow will allow Sutcliffe to revert to the centres.

Ashton Golding, Ryan Hall and Brad Singleton have also been named in Rhinos’ initial 19-man squad, but Anthony Mullally (concussion) drops out.

Newman reckons Rhinos are capable of shocking Wigan. He said: “We are struggling at the minute, but I think it’ll come good.

“There’s still belief and I think we’ll be all right. Wigan is a tough place to go, but if we can get a win there it’ll be a huge confidence-booster going into the next few weeks.

“We need to get a few wins to start climbing the table.”