How TV star Ant Middleton helped Leeds Rhinos' Brad Dwyer cope with Covid-19 layoff

The 27-year-old, nicknamed Dog, says trying new things has been his key to coping as the months without rugby drag on.

Dwyer is ever-present in Rhinos’ five competitive games this year, scoring two tries including one in the 66-12 drubbing of Toronto Wolfpack on March 5.

That was Rhinos’ final game before Betfred Super League was suspended because of coronavirus. Clubs have yet to confirm when the competition will resume, but round eight has been provisionally pencilled in for Sunday, August 16 - two months from today.

Rhinos could be ordered to play their two games in hand before that, but it seems likely there will be a five-month break between the Toronto match and their next fixture.

That has put a financial strain on the club and left players in an unprecedented situation, but Dwyer insisted he is “doing pretty well really”.

The former Warrington hooker said: “I have not really looked towards any certain dates or anything like that, I am trying to take it day by day and that seems to be working for me.

“I am trying to keep myself busy really; only last week I was looking back over lockdown and I am pretty pleased with things I’ve done that I wouldn’t normally do.

“In that way it has been a positive.

“Obviously there’s so many negatives to take out of the situation, you have got to focus on the positives.

“That’s what I have tried to do because it seems like it’s not over yet.

“It’s still going to have a big effect, especially on rugby, over the next 18 months.”

Dwyer has launched his own podcast, which is available via Rhinos’ website and said: “That has been good, that is getting me out of my comfort zone.

“I’ve also read my first book since school. I am not really a big reader, but a lot of people have said you should read to educate yourself and that might help me with the podcast, with my vocabulary.

“I read Ant Middleton’s book, First Man In. It was good, it’s about leadership and mindset and stuff like that. That has really helped me with how I want to go back [to Rhinos].

“Also, I’ve been watching the Michael Jordan documentary [The Last Dance]. That has been a great watch about how you want to be in a team environment.

“With missing rugby you can’t do much about it other than think about how you are going to approach it when you go back. That has been a big help as well.”

Organised and group training is not allowed, but Dwyer has been keeping himself in good shape. He has been spending time gardening and said: “I am doing plenty of walks, which I have found really good for me and I want to carry on.

“There’s quite a lot of nice places to see in North Yorkshire so that’s something I am going to carry over. There’s a lot to get from me going for a walk instead of being sat in the house.

“Another thing I have been doing is quite a lot of long-distance running and duathlons [running and cycling].”

In terms of rugby fitness, Dwyer said: “I have got a bit of equipment, but we have been training since November so I have just been trying to rest, really.

“I struggle with that, I probably over-train rather than under-train.

“If I am going to be playing until December I don’t really want to be training the house down and my body feels the effects.

“But I am in good shape and I am managing to keep fit doing other things rather than rugby. Hopefully the date in August will get confirmed soon and that gives us eight weeks to get prepared, so I’ll probably start being more specific towards the rugby stuff.”

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