Leeds Rhinos ace Walker back up and running

Walker suffered serious damage to a foot during Rhinos’ 36-0 thrashing of Warrington Wolves on February 28.

He tried to play on, but had to be substituted - with half-back/hooker Richie Myler taking over at full-back - and missed the big home win over Toronto Wolfpack six days later.

But Rhinos’ visit to Catalans Dragons the following week was postponed and there has been no rugby league played in this country since that weekend because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Walker has undergone surgery twice and been virtually housebound for most of the sport’s layoff, but is now on the mend, beginning to step up training and hopeful of being available for selection when Rhinos next take to the field.

“I had a second operation about two weeks ago, just to get the screw out of my foot,” said the 20-year-old. “I did my first fitness session last week and that went well, so I am flying.”

Though a date has yet to be confirmed, Betfred Super League is expected to return on August 16, with teams having matches in hand - including Rhinos - returning to action from the start of the month. In rugby terms, the opportunity for injured players to recover has been one of the few positives from a tough situation.

“Even if it’s July, I should be pretty much back,” Walker said. “Another three or four weeks and I reckon I will be fully running and doing everything as normal, so it’s pretty good.

“The timing has been perfect for me, to be fair. I only missed the Toronto game and that was it then, I haven’t missed any more games so it has worked out all right for me.”

Walker was in impressive form before the injury, having played in Rhinos’ opening four games and scored three tries. He said: “I snapped the Lisfranc ligament in my foot - which holds two of your metatarsals together - and I had three fractures, all in the same foot.

“My toes were pointed to the floor and I think it was Gareth Widdop fell on my heel and basically my foot just bent in half. It could have been a lot worse, but that’s what happened.

“It was frustrating, I thought I was having a pretty decent game against Warrington. I scored early doors and was going good, but it’s just my luck!”

Walker scored a hat-trick on his debut, aged 17, for Leeds in a 2017 Challenge Cup tie against Doncaster, just three years after suffering a fractured skull playing for Oulton Invaders under-14s.

He was a Grand Final winner at the end of his first season in Rhinos’ senior squad and played for England Knights in 2018, but missed their game against Jamaica at Emerald Headingley last year because of a shoulder injury.

“I am feeling pretty confident,” he said of his latest recovery.

“I think I am going in the right direction.

“I can’t wait to get back, I am fed up of just being sat at home all the time.”

Lockdown has been tough for Walker, who recalled: “I had my operation at the start of March and I had to quarantine for two weeks leading up to the operation, to make sure I didn’t have coronavirus.

“I had a pot on for six weeks and then I had a boot on; I had my second operation and I had to isolate again.

“I have been inside for a good two and a half-three months, which is a killer.

“It has been frustrating, but I went for my first bike ride last week and it was good to just get out of the house.”

Players at professional clubs who have been placed on furlough are not allowed to train together, but Walker said Leeds’ squad have been staying in touch and maintaining morale.

“I play a fair bit of PS4 with a few of the boys and we have been keeping in contact,” he confirmed.

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. These are challenging times but the team at the Yorkshire Evening Post need your support more than ever in the weeks ahead.

While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you. In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you - wherever possible and providing it is safe for you to do so - to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Inevitably falling advertising revenues will start to have an impact on local newspapers and the way we continue to work during this period of uncertainty. So the support of our readers has never been more important as we try to make sure that we keep you connected with the city you live in during this time. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. We need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

Our team of trusted reporters are working incredibly hard behind the scenes- from kitchen tables and spare bedrooms - to look at how we can do this and your continued support to the YEP will help to protect its viability in the days and weeks ahead.

For more details on our subscription offers please visit www.localsubsplus.co.uk/YEP, email [email protected] or call us on 0330 4033004

Thank you

Laura Collins

Editor

READ MORE:

https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/opinion/were-therewithyou-now-your-yep-needs-your-support-too-laura-collins-yep-editor-2521777