New Leeds Rhinos arrival Matt Prior is raring to go

Australian recruit Matt Prior says he is "happy and excited" to have joined Leeds Rhinos.
Matt Prior visits Leeds Rhinos' changing room for the first time. Picture by Steve Riding.Matt Prior visits Leeds Rhinos' changing room for the first time. Picture by Steve Riding.
Matt Prior visits Leeds Rhinos' changing room for the first time. Picture by Steve Riding.

Prior arrived in Leeds last Saturday and will train with his new teammates for the first time on Thursday when they return from their Christmas break.

The full-time squad will fly to Spain for warm weather training two days later and Prior is expected to feature in the pre-season game against Bradford Bulls on Sunday, January 12.

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Prior is a former St George-Illawarra Dragons teammate of Leeds forward Adam Cuthbertson and played alongside Ava Seumanufagai at his previous club Cronulla Sharks.

Matt Prior takes in his new surroundings at Emerald Headingley. Picture by Steve Riding.Matt Prior takes in his new surroundings at Emerald Headingley. Picture by Steve Riding.
Matt Prior takes in his new surroundings at Emerald Headingley. Picture by Steve Riding.

He penned a two-year contract in November after marquee signing Trent Merrin returned to Australia.

“My manager spoke to me and said they [Rhinos] enquired about me and asked if I’d be keen to come over," Prior revealed.

“I met Rich [Agar, Leeds' coach] in Australia when he was out there, we had a brief chat and it snowballed from there.

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“I don’t know that much about Leeds, but I am looking forward to learning everything about the club.

“I always wanted to come over here and play a couple of years and it has all worked out really well.

“I am happy to be here, it is very exciting times.”

Prior reckons the style of play in Betfred Super League will suit his game.

“Everyone says Super League is really fast, a bit faster than the NRL and they like to play a bit more footy than the NRL," he said.

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“There’s a lot of teams that are very structured in the NRL, with a defence-oriented mindset and I guess it’s a bit more free-flowing over here.

“I am looking forward to that side of it.

"Everyone has said how good the crowds are and how passionate and how into the games they get and I am looking forward to that as well.”

Check back later for more from Prior including what he hopes to bring to Rhinos' side in 2020 and how confident he is of being ready to go when the season begins on February 2.