Leeds Rhinos coach Brad Arthur talks 'tough' rookie Fergus McCormack, drops big hint over 2027 stand-off

Leeds Rhinos boss Brad Arthur has praised rookie full-back Fergus McCormack and dropped a hint about his stand-off plans for next year.

McCormack has played the full 80 minutes of Rhinos’ past two games and is likely to keep his place for next Friday’s fixture at Toulouse Olympique when Man of Steel leader Lachie Miller completes his three-match ban. McCormack’s only previous first team experience was as a substitute in Rhinos’ Betfred Challenge Cup tie at second-tier Widnes Vikings four months ago.

Rookie Leeds Rhinos full-back Fergus McCormack catches a kick during the win against St Helens. Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com.

placeholder image — Rookie Leeds Rhinos full-back Fergus McCormack catches a kick during the win against St Helens. Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com.

Assessing the 20-year-old’s performance in Thursday’s 24-16 defeat of St Helens, Arthur said: “He did good. He got a couple of things wrong, but he’s a kid - he has got to learn and the only way he is going to learn is by that. His teammates got around him, that’s what I am really pleased about.”

The Saints game was a step up for McCormack after his Super League debut in the 52-0 hammering of Huddersfield Giants two weeks earlier. Arthur reflected: “After 60 minutes I was looking at him and he was blowing. I knew he was tired and I said to Langers [assistant-coach Jamie Langley] sitting next to me ‘this is going to make or break him, he has got 20 minutes, he’s just got to tough it out’. To his credit [he did that] and it’s the only way to learn.”

Stand-off George Brown impressed during a brief spell in Leeds Rhinos' first team at the start of this year. Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com.

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Of the tough final quarter against Saints, Arthur added: “I think it’s good for Ferg, he learns more about himself, that he can get through it in the big games. It gives him the confidence boost that he knows he can tough it out. He’s two games in, when he’s 20 games in or 50 games in he will be able to handle it easy. Two games in, he showed in a big occasion, when the pressure’s on, he can tough it out.”

Arthur - who has signed a new contract keeping him at Leeds until the end of 2028 - admitted he was “disappointed” not to get a chance to bring teenage forward Presley Cassell off the bench on Thursday and dropped his strongest hint yet that another 19-year-old, George Brown, could become first-choice stand-off next year when Brodie Croft leaves to join Warrington Wolves.

Rhinos were expected to sign a number six to replace Croft, but Arthur previously insisted he would have no fears about giving Brown a shot. And speaking after the win against Saints he stressed: “We have got a good system and we are happy to back our youth, like next year with George Brown. We are backing George Brown.”