Leeds United’s glory is fan-tastic for them, us and the city – Luke Gale

For starters, there’s James Donaldson who, so far this year, has come in in a Man United top, a Juventus top and a Man City top.

He’s just said that now Leeds United have gone up he’s got a Leeds United top as well.

We have a fair few like that. Rhyse Martin likes to flick across a few teams.

But promotion is great for the city and I think it will spur us on as a rugby league team as well.

Leeds are in the Premier League, the city will be buzzing, everyone will be massively excited and that is a massive boost for Leeds Rhinos, too.

At Rhinos, I feel we can go out and kind of emulate United a bit.

The good thing about the city of Leeds is the supporters are Leeds through and through, whether it be rugby, football, whatever.

I know what it’s like with Josh Warrington in boxing and the support he gets.

I reckon if Leeds had a chess team everyone would jump on board and get behind that as well!

If you have high-competing teams in Leeds, it’s huge for the city, a real plus and everybody gets behind it.

What United have done is a massive positive and we now have to go on and do our bit for the city from the rugby league side of things just as we were before lockdown.

It’s not long now until we return - just over a week before we take on Huddersfield Giants in that triple-header at Emerald Headingley.

And it’d be quality to mirror United; just as they play an exciting, expansive style of game under Bielsa, we want to do the same under Agar!

We were doing just that before coronavirus brought Super League to a halt in March.

We were playing a great brand; it was really working for us and we want to carry that on now.

We can’t wait to get back going. Obviously, Super League is going to be different given the news this week that Toronto Wolfpack won’t be able to fulfil their 2020 fixtures.

It’s massively disappointing first of all for the players.

It’s been a tough time for everyone and now, halfway through the season, they have no job.

I feel sorry for the players and their families but Toronto itself as well. It’s never nice having a club drop out of the competition and it’s not great for the Super League but it’s a tough one.

I know coronavirus has affected them a lot more than the English clubs with us being able to get the various funding and furlough.

It’s tough and I feel for Toronto really; they added to the competition, gave a different type of feel to it and brought plenty, so it is gutting.

I’d like Toronto in Super League but - in terms of whether they will be in it in 2021 - my only worry is whether it would be sustainable.

I do like the Wolfpack. I know we have people who say it will never take off.

But, for me as a player, I’d always push the different side to it - bringing a world feel to rugby league.

The more teams we can get the better in my opinion so we can showcase our sport across the globe.

We’ll have to wait and see what happens with regards the Wolfpack but we wish them all well.

As for us, we’re now in the second week back training.

The squad is looking great; the intensity is there and we’re all ready.

It feels like it’s the calm before the storm now. The wait is nearly over.

***

A message from the Editor:

Leeds has a fantastic story to tell - and the Yorkshire Evening Post has been rooted firmly at the heart of telling the stories of our city since 1890.

We believe in ourselves and hope you believe in us too. We need your support to help ensure we can continue to be at the heart of life in Leeds.

Subscribe to our website and enjoy unlimited access to local news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Click here to subscribe. For more details on our newspaper subscription offers click here.

Thank you

Laura Collins

Editor