Why Leeds Rhinos Challenge Cup winner Alex Sutcliffe is delighted with his Shooting Star award

LEEDS RHINOS youngster Alex Sutcliffe is one of the few who will not be glad to see the end of 2020.
Alex Sutcliffe in Betfred Super League play-off action in November against Warrington. Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe/JPIMedia.Alex Sutcliffe in Betfred Super League play-off action in November against Warrington. Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe/JPIMedia.
Alex Sutcliffe in Betfred Super League play-off action in November against Warrington. Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe/JPIMedia.

It has been a breakthrough year for the centre/second-rower who ended it with a Coral Challenge Cup winner’s medal and the Yorkshire Evening Post Shooting Star award.

The 21-year-old made his Leeds debut in 2017 and featured just twice, both as a substitute, in his first three seasons in the first-team squad.

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But he played nine times this year, including coming off the bench in the Wembley defeat of Salford Red Devils.

Alex Sutcliffe, right, celebrartes Leeds Rhinos' 2020 Challenge Cup triumph with team-mates Mikolaj Oledzki, left, and Liam Sutcliffe. Picture: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com.Alex Sutcliffe, right, celebrartes Leeds Rhinos' 2020 Challenge Cup triumph with team-mates Mikolaj Oledzki, left, and Liam Sutcliffe. Picture: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com.
Alex Sutcliffe, right, celebrartes Leeds Rhinos' 2020 Challenge Cup triumph with team-mates Mikolaj Oledzki, left, and Liam Sutcliffe. Picture: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com.

He admitted: “I wouldn’t have thought I’d have the Shooting Star or a Challenge Cup medal, but I am absolutely over the moon.”

The Shooting Star is voted for by YEP readers and Sutcliffe saw off strong competition from Tom Holroyd, Mikolaj Oledzki and Cameron Smith.

“They are three outstanding players and I think they have all featured in a lot more games than I have,” said Sutcliffe.

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“I am delighted to get recognised, that people think I am an up and coming player.”

Leeds Rhinos up-and-comer, Tom Holroyd. Picture: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com.Leeds Rhinos up-and-comer, Tom Holroyd. Picture: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com.
Leeds Rhinos up-and-comer, Tom Holroyd. Picture: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com.

Sutcliffe, a product of the Oulton Raiders community club, cut his teeth on dual-registration at Featherstone Rovers last year, helping them reach the Betfred Championship Grand Final.

At the start of 2020, his aim was simply to get some games under his belt for Leeds, so the year has gone much better than expected.

“I am made up,” he added.

“I just thought I would get a game here and there if I had to fill in for someone, so to actually put a marker in the team and show I can play Super League week in and week out and I can prove to the boys what I can do, it is really good.”

Leeds Rhinos' Cameron Smith. Picture: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com.Leeds Rhinos' Cameron Smith. Picture: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com.
Leeds Rhinos' Cameron Smith. Picture: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com.
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Sutcliffe has played in the outside-backs and pack for Leeds, impressing the coaching staff with his solid front-on defence.

He continued: “I am not too sure at the moment what I am position-wise, a centre or a back-rower.

“I will play anywhere really, I am not too fussed, but I wouldn’t mind being a back-rower in the future. That’s probably where I see myself playing. I have always prided myself on defence and thought that’s probably the best part of my game.

“I don’t mind tackling, I know people want the ball, but I think one of my best attributes is my defence.”

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Having undergone surgery on a damaged shoulder before Christmas, Sutcliffe is likely to miss the start of the new Betfred Super League campaign, in March.

He said: “I have had a shoulder problem for a while now.

“It has needed doing and I have just put it off and tried to crack on for the team.

“It has just got to that time where I needed it done more than I could cope with it.

“I needed it done to be the best I can and I thought at the end of the season, I might as well get it done now as we’ve got a bit of time off.

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“It is a four-month recovery period and I might miss one or two games at the start of the season, but that’s nothing really in a full season.

“I would like to play them all, but sometimes you can’t always do what you want. There’s 27 games, it is a long season.

“If I can get right for the start of the season, perfect – but if I miss one or two games there’s no big dramas.”

Sutcliffe is confident Leeds can continue to improve next year.

“It is a very young squad,” he noted.

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“We have got some young players coming through –like Jack Broadbent, Jarrod O’Connor, Liam Tindall.

“Every one of the young lads have a massive amount of talent and I think the Rhinos fans and everyone else should be excited to see them play.

“They are outstanding players.”

And, obviously, future contenders for the YEP Shooting Star award.

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