Why Leeds Rhinos coach Richard Agar is so excited about the future
THE STRENGTH of this year’s Shooting Star shortlist is evidence Leeds Rhinos have a bright future, according to coach Richard Agar.
The annual award is presented by the Yorkshire Evening Post to the player, aged 24 or under at the start of the season, who has made the biggest impact over the past 12 months.
The winner will be announced at Rhinos’ awards presentation, taking place online - via the club’s website - from 6pm today.
Nominees for the Shooting Star prize - voted on by YEP readers - are props Tom Holroyd and Mikolaj Oledzki, loose-forward Cameron Smith and centre/second-row Alex Sutcliffe.
Holroyd is 19, Sutcliffe 21 and Oledzki and Smith both 22.
Jack Walker, 21, Harry Newman, 20 and Ash Handley, 24 are all young enough to qualify, but - as past winners - were not considered.
Nine other players aged 21 or younger also featured for Rhinos in 2020.
The shortlist this year was one of the strongest since the award was introduced in 1998.
Agar said: “There’s four young players in there that’s hard to pick from.
“They have all played more first grade and become more prominent in what they do for us over the last 12 months.
“I think that’s a really good sign for us as a club.
“It is obvious we are after another front-rower, another middle, but we are still looking at Tommy, Cam and Mik as being the backbone of our pack for 10 years.”
Holroyd, who made his debut two years ago, played nine games in 2020 before his season was ended early by a wrist injury.
Oledzki has been in the first-team squad since 2017 and featured 22 times this year, more than any other player.
Smith, whose debut was in 2016, made 15 appearances and Sutcliffe - who underwent surgery on a shoulder last week - played nine times, including the Coral Challenge Cup final win over Salford Red Devils.
He made his debut in 2017 and was on dual-registration at Featherstone Rovers when they reached the Betfred Championship Grand Final two years later.
“We are in a good spot with them,” Agar said of the shortlist.
“It’s good, when you here those four names you think we have done all right there, they are all heading in the right direction and are all terrific kids as well.”
Rhinos’ player of the year - chosen by the players and coaching staff - will also be revealed this evening, along with clubman and try of the year.
Meanwhile, Agar confirmed the search for another forward to bolster the pack next season is continuing.
The Yorkshire Evening Post understands Rhinos have been in touch with several players at Australian clubs - including Penrith Panthers’ New Zealand-born powerhouse Zane Tetevano - and were close to signing an NRL prop last month, before deciding he was not the right fit.
Adam Cuthbertson’s departure to Championship promotion hopefuls York City Knights has left a vacancy in Rhinos’ pack, but Agar said it is crucial they get the right man.
“We are on with it,” he said.
“It is a very different market this year, given the timescales with Covid and when the respective competitions finished.
“It is is a difficult market, but we are in no rush.
“We’d rather find the right person than panic into anything.
“We are after a middle, but we wouldn’t sign anyone for the sake of it.”
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