Leeds Rhinos star Richie Myler focused on St Helens clash - despite Toronto Wolfpack uncertainty

Plans for next season have been thrown up in the air, but Leeds Rhinos’ Richie Myler insists he won’t spend time worrying about anything beyond Sunday's visit of St Helens.
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Myler, whose agent is former Leeds captain Iestyn Harris, is out of contract in November and - as of last month - has not been offered a new deal.

That is because he was expected to join Toronto Wolfpack next season, but the Canadian club’s future is now in doubt after they pulled out of the rest of their 2020 campaign.

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“I think everyone’s waiting with baited breath,” Myler said of what happens now.

Richie Myler in possession against Huddersfield. Picture by Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com.Richie Myler in possession against Huddersfield. Picture by Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com.
Richie Myler in possession against Huddersfield. Picture by Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com.

“I am just as much [in the dark] as you are, waiting to see what happens and then I’ll take it from there.

“That’s why I have a really good agent; it is Iestyn’s job to worry about all that, my job is just to do my best for the team for as long as I am needed to do that. My focus is on that.

“It is a bit of uncertain times at the minute, but I have been around long enough to know these things work themselves out and what will be will be.”

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Rhinos could still offer a contract to Myler and Stevie Ward, who is in a similar situation, though probably on reduced terms.

Richie Myler at training. Picture by Varley Picture Agency.Richie Myler at training. Picture by Varley Picture Agency.
Richie Myler at training. Picture by Varley Picture Agency.

Leeds’ player of the year in his debut 2018 campaign, Myler lost his number seven role to recruit Luke Gale last autumn, but has impressed this year as both back-up hooker and full-back.

“I am absolutely loving my time at Leeds,” he stressed.

“We have got such a great squad going on and a great bond, I think Rich [Agar, Rhinos’ coach] and Kev [Sinfield, director of rugby] are doing a great job and it’s a great place to be.

“Whatever happens in the future happens; we have got a job to do now.

Former Leeds captain Iestyn Harris, pictured, is Richie Myler's agent. Picture by Mark Bickerdike.Former Leeds captain Iestyn Harris, pictured, is Richie Myler's agent. Picture by Mark Bickerdike.
Former Leeds captain Iestyn Harris, pictured, is Richie Myler's agent. Picture by Mark Bickerdike.
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“We have got to focus on this week against Saints and the games come thick and fast then.

“My focus is just on that, really. Next year is next year, we have got a job to do first.”

Myler has played in all six of Rhinos’ competitive games in 2020, starting the last two at full-back in place of the injured Jack Walker.

He underwent a head injury assessment during last weekend’s 27-26 golden point win over Huddersfield Giants, but was cleared to return and provided the final pass for Konrad Hurrell’s game-saving try two minutes from time.

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“I don’t really remember much of the first half, after the bang to my head,” Myler admitted.

“We didn’t play well for 60 minutes, but I thought we showed a lot of character and belief in ourselves to pull it out the bag when it matters.

“And to have someone like Galey [who landed the decisive drop goal], I have been on the wrong end of them for a long time so it’s nice to have him in the team.

Despite the scrappy performance, Leeds’ fightback from 26-6 down with 12 minutes remaining proved there is no shortage of spirit in their squad.

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Myler added: “We were well off at the beginning, not in all aspects, but in certain ones so we need to improve for this week because we know Saints are a big threat

“We were all disappointed with what we turned out in the first half.

“We all recognise that we were a bit off and we needed to put it right.

“Unfortunately it took until the last 20 minutes to do that, but I thought once we got that momentum in our favour we were pretty hard to stop.”

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Saints had a mixed start to the season, but outclassed Catalans Dragons 34-6 in their first game following coronavirus and Myler described them as a “quality side”.

He warned: “They have got a lot of quality players and they are the reigning champions so it is a tough challenge against them.

“We are going to have to dust ourselves down and get ourselves going again.

“Bodies are a bit sore after four month of not playing so we will patch it all back up and go again.”

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Myler has passed his head test following the knock three days ago and expects to be available.

“I am fit for selection,” he confirmed.

“As I went down in a tackle I think I got a knee to the top of the head.

“It stunned me a fair bit, to be fair, but I passed all my head tests and that’s why I went back on.

“I just felt a bit groggy and sore.”

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