From fan to future star - Leeds Rhinos have high hopes for teenage prospect Levi Edwards

Edwards has been drafted directly into Rhinos’ full-time squad from the club’s scholarship system, without having played at academy level, which is an indication of how highly he is rated by Leeds’ management.

Even before his official inclusion in the 2021 squad, Edwards had a taste of training with the senior players last year and was 18th man for three Super League games.

The next step is a first team appearance, but having turned 17 just two months ago - on Christmas Day - Edwards knows time is on his side and has pledged not to run before he can walk.

“That’s what I’d like, but there’s no rush,” Rhinos’ new number 30 said of his prospects of a debut this year.

“I am not ready fully yet; I probably could do, but I want to be better - I want to make a difference when I go on.”

Edwards played for his local club Batley Boys and was with Siddal for two years before signing for Leeds, so the past seven weeks - since pre-season began at the start of January - have been a huge learning experience.

“The first two weeks, my body was killing me, but I have got into it,” Edwards said.

“I have got used to the plays; I was nervous [at first], but I’ve recently come out of my shell and got more involved and I am loving it.”

Last year’s involvement gave the youngster a taste of what to expect as he graduates from scholarship to the top level.

“It was good experience,” he recalled of his 18th man duties against Catalans Dragons, Warrington Wolves and St Helens.

More - 'He's a great kid' - Leeds Rhinos forward James Donaldson predicts big future for prospect Levi Edwards

“When I make my debut I won’t be as nervous because I am used to the warming up and so on and being in the changing rooms and I know what needs to be done on the day.

“It was nerve-racking - I was hoping I didn’t go on, because I’ve only just started - but it was good, I loved it.

“As a kid you look at all these players and then I am warming up next to them, it’s mad.”

Edwards identified Kevin Sinfield - now Rhinos’ director of rugby - and Ryan Hall as two players he looked up to during his days in junior rugby league.

He said: “I haven’t always been a rugby player - I played football before. Watching rugby, it always used to be Leeds.”

Coach Richard Agar has made it clear he sees promoting young players into the first team as a key part of his job, but even so, going straight from under-16s to the Super League squad is unusual and a massive vote of confidence in Edwards and another ex-Siddal youngster Morgan Gannon, who is on the same path.

“I think Rich helped out in the process a bit when I first came to Leeds,” Edwards said. “I played against an Australian team [in the autumn of 2019] and they asked me to come down after that and it has gone from there.

“I have always played second-row, that’s my main position, then since I’ve started first grade I have been trying out centre.

“Rich has said I don’t have a set position yet, they just want to see what I am good at.

“I am enjoying it at centre, I like being involved, but either way, I like both positions. There’s some good people to learn off at Leeds, they are all helping me so it’s good.”

Edwards is one of several young players - also including Gannon, Liam Tindall, Corey Hall, Sam Walters, Jack Broadbent and Jarrod O’Connor - Rhinos believe could hold the key to the club’s hopes over the next few years.

“It’s really, really bright,” Edwards said of the team’s future.

“We’ve got a few young ones in the squad and they are doing really well in training. People are injured so they are filling in more. It is really promising, we have got a good future ahead of us.”

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