Injury-hit Leeds Rhinos adopt 'next man up' approach for Leigh Leopards as boss 'excited' to see rookies play

Rhinos have nine players on their casualty list, including five of their top-13. Arthur’s first 21-man squad of the new Betfred Super League campaign features eight players with fewer than 10 senior games to their name, including two who have yet to make their debut and a couple whose first appearance came against Championship side Widnes Vikings in the Challenge Cup last week.

That makes a tough challenge - away to last year’s third-placed side - even harder, but Arthur insisted: “It’s exciting with these young boys in.” He stressed: “It’s a next man up mentality. These guys have been training and they know what the standards and expectations are. More than half of our team last week were under the age of 24 and they got some good exposure. The only way you get experience is by getting that exposure.”

Teenager George Brown, who turns 19 next week, will be in the halves for his first Super League appearance, having bagged two tries, playing at full-back, on debut in the Challenge Cup last weekend. Brown, a product of the Dewsbury Celtic community club, is Rhinos’ reigning academy player of the year and was man of the match in the reserves’ Grand Final win against Warrington Wolves last season.

“The boys are excited for him and they’ve got the utmost trust and faith in him,” Arthur stated. “He did a great job [against Widnes], his first touch was an error, but he had a couple of good strong carries and he scored two tries, not through luck, but through good education around where he needed to be.

“He was in the right place at the right time. He filled in in the halves for 25 minutes and made some really strong front-on tackles. He was a bit quick around his control on the ground, but that’s just young guys being eager not to make me cranky by giving away penalties and six-agains. They’ve just got to learn the balance, but you only get that through experience.”

Brothers Ned and Fergus McCormack have also retained their place in Leeds’ 21. Ned, a centre, made his fourth senior appearance last week and Fergus came off the bench for his debut. Both are on the comeback trail following long-term hamstring injuries and, while it’s not certain either will feature against Leigh, Arthur is pleased with their progress.

He said: “Last week was probably the best we’ve seen Ned play. I thought he was really physical with his carries and defensively he was a lot more decisive with his decision-making and backed himself. He looked a lot more comfortable in his role, he did a good job.

“Fergus, it was good for him to get out there and get through that 25-minutes. He hadn’t played since April and he was probably relieved the club still believes in him, backed him and gave him that opportunity.

“He was just happy to get out there and have a bit of fun. He has had a torrid run of injuries and luck and it’s exciting for him to go and play. He did a good job and learned plenty from it.

“These young guys, the only way they get experience is by playing. We can educate them at training and with video, but the best education is what they do on the field.”

Fergus McCormack is better known as a stand-off, but played in the number one role at Widnes. Arthur said: “I feel like his best position is full-back. He can play a running-six game, but I feel like with a bit of space and free rein that will suit him.

“He has still got a lot to learn around the defensive and positional part of it, but that takes a long time and a lot of experience. With his attributes - his running game, his speed, his catch and his pass - for me he is probably best suited at full-back.”