Jack Walker hails team spirit at improving Leeds Rhinos

Rhinos can record a third successive win for the first time since 2018 when Warrington Wolves visit Emerald Headingley tomorrow.

And Walker reckons the way they have bounced back from a poor start to the campaign against Hull reflects a new, improved team spirit.

“It’s just the way the group is together and everyone has each other’s backs, it is a massive change from last year,” Walker said.

“If someone makes a mistake you know your team-mate has got your back to fix it up for you. I think with things like that we will go a long way this season.”

Having produced a devastating attacking display to beat Hull KR, Rhinos toughed out a win at Salford last Saturday, but the important thing now is finding some consistency.

Walker stressed: “We want to try and get some momentum. We know it is going to be a tough game so hopefully we can carry on what we’ve done in those two games and fix a few things we need to and take that into [tomorrow].”

An impressive win at Salford in February last year was followed by a five-match losing run and the full-back added: “The main thing is don’t be complacent and don’t get too carried away.

“Last year we scored nearly 50 points there and the next week we got beat. It is all about staying grounded, building on what we did well and fixing up what went wrong and if we can do that I don’t think we will have a problem.”

Walker has played in Rhinos’ three games so far and scored in each of the last two.

“It is going really well,” he said of the way he has started the campaign.

“There’s a few things to fix up, but overall pretty good.”

The match at Salford was a test for the full-back who had to cope with a strong, swirling wind.

“It was tough with the wind and then the rain started as well,” he recalled. “I thought all the back-three handled it pretty well, so it was good.

“It is part and parcel of the game, some weekends it’s sunny, some it’s wind or rainy.

“You just have to deal with it. Last week was windy and rainy so it was pretty tough, but we dealt with it, so I was happy.”

Walker’s try came in the closing stages and ended the hosts’ hopes of fighting their way back into the contest.

Five successive penalties put Rhinos under pressure, but then Ava Seumanufagai snapped up a loose pass, Konrad Hurrell and Ash Handley counter-attacked and Walker was in support to cross and complete a 22-8 success.

Rhinos rarely looked dangerous from long-range last year and struggled to turn defence into attack, so that was an encouraging sign.

“I know we have got the people in the team to make those breaks,” Walker said.

“My role is to be in support.

“It is credit to Konny and Ash for making the break and I was just there to finish it off.”