Leeds Rhinos 2018: Jack Walker returns '˜fitter, stronger and faster' to prove he's no one-season wonder

Second season syndrome is a common affliction in rugby, the symptoms being a drop in form after an impressive debut campaign.

Walker, who scored a hat-trick on his debut in a Ladbrokes Challenge Cup win over Doncaster in April and touched down five times in 12 appearances, is aware of that, but confident he can maintain and even exceed the sky-high standards he has already set.

“Every game I play I trust myself to do the best I can,” stressed the Oulton Raiders product. “That’s all I can do really, then just see how it goes.”

There is no real pressure on Walker, who is well ahead of schedule in terms of his rugby career.

“I never expected last year to go as well as it did,” he conceded. “But I am always full of confidence and I am always ready to go.

“I feel a lot fitter, faster and stronger after a full pre-season. I am just looking forward to getting into games now.”

Not many 18 year olds have the experience of a Grand Final behind them.

Leon Pryce played for Bradford Bulls at Old Trafford on his 18th birthday, but Walker is the youngest to own a winner’s ring, having been 18 years and 60 days old on October 7 last year.

That eclipsed the record previously held by team-mate Stevie Ward, who was aged 18 years and 324 days when he played in Rhinos’ 2012 Grand Final success.

Recalling that memorable night almost four months ago, Walker said: “Playing in front of that many people is mind-blowing.

“It got to about the 70th minute and one of the coaches came on and said ‘stand back and have a look, embrace it’.

“I did that and it was incredible.”

That will stand Walker in good stead for whatever this season throws at him, but he insisted: “I don’t really get nervous, I have got a job to do and I just go and get it done.

“On the big stage I thought I did okay, I didn’t really feel under any pressure, I just went out and did my best.”

Walker will wear the No 24 jersey this year and battle No 1 Ashton Golding for the full-back spot, giving coach Brian McDermott options in a key role.

“There’s always positions in the team where people are pushing each other,” Walker said. “I think mine and Ashton’s is just the most highlighted at the moment.

“I am looking forward to just doing my best every week and hopefully cementing that place. You can’t get complacent, there’s always somebody after your shirt.”

If he starts the season as first-choice, Walker could be in line to go head-to-head with one of the greatest full-backs of all time, Billy Slater, in this month’s World Club Challenge tie at Melbourne Storm.

“I am not really looking that far ahead,” he stated. “I want to play the next couple of games, play well and focus on them and then hopefully I get picked to play over there.

“It would be unreal, an absolutely class experience.”