'I'm getting more comfortable in the position and enjoying it' - Leeds Rhinos rookie Jack Broadbent happy with full-back shift ahead of Wakefield Trinity derby

Broadbent’s preferred position is centre and he played there against this Friday’s visitors Wakefield Trinity in Betfred Super League round one, before switching to full-back following an injury to Richie Myler.

Other than dropping to the bench against Hull KR, when Myler returned, he has held the role ever since and his form has been a shining light in Rhinos’ poor start to the campaign.

“Every week I am learning something new,” the 20-year-old said.

“Longy and Rich [assistant-coach Sean Long and team boss Richard Agar] and [injured first-choice full-back] Jack Walker are tipping me up and helping me.

“I feel like I am getting more comfortable in the position and I am enjoying it.”

Broadbent insisted: “I will play anywhere they need me to, I’ll put my hand up and give anything a go.

“It is another thing to say ‘I can do this’.

“I am picking a lot of things up and I feel I can improve in that position.”

A full-back needs to direct players on the field and Broadbent has no fear about issuing orders to more experienced teammates.

“I pride myself on being a big speaker,” he stressed.

“It’s something you don’t need any talent for, anyone can do it.

“It’s just something I think makes the game easier, if everyone’s on the same page.

“Especially at full-back, you have got to be a commanding player.

“Probably in my first couple of games I wasn’t as vocal, because I wasn’t sure if I was doing it right, but in rugby - even if it’s not the right thing - you have got to do it 100 per cent anyway.

“If you do something 50-50, even if it’s the right thing, it isn’t going to work.

“Telling players where to go and where they need to be is the full-back’s job and I need to do what my job is in the game. I have got to do it.”

Rhinos will go into Friday’s derby on the back of five successive defeats, but Broadbent is confident they will turn their season around.

He said: “Obviously it has been pretty tough, with the results we have been having, but I reckon we have got a lot of improvement to do as a team and we haven’t been far off, so that is quite a positive.

“We know how much we can improve. Losing by a point isn’t good enough, but there’s a few fix-ups we know we need to do and it is an easy fix for us.”

With no game last week, Rhinos will have had 12 days to prepare when they take the field against Wakefield.

“It lets players recover and get over a few niggles and get back 100 per cent,” Broadbent said. “I think it is a good thing we’ve had a break to rest and recover, but we just want to go out there and play and right our wrongs.

“The sooner the better, but obviously it can work in our favour and it’s probably going to be good for us in the long run.”

Support the YEP and become a subscriber today. Enjoy unlimited access to local news and the latest on Leeds United, With a digital subscription, you see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Click here to subscribe.