Sutcliffe aims for New Year to remember
LIAM SUTCLIFFE has no abiding memory of Leeds Rhinos’ wretched 2016 campaign – because there are too many horror stories to pick from.
Brian McDermott’s side won a historic Treble in 2015, collecting the League Leaders’ Shield before marching to glory in the Challenge Cup final and Super League Grand Final.
Yet the past 12 months descended into a waking nightmare as the Rhinos’ Kirkstall training headquarters was destroyed in the Boxing Day floods, leaving them without a home and wrecking their pre-season.
Leeds ended the campaign in the bottom four, at risk of relegation before they safeguarded their top-flight status in a strong run Sutcliffe believes bodes well for 2017, ending the year in style by finishing top in the Qualifiers.
Sutcliffe, 22, rated as one of the best young prospects in the game, will line up for the Rhinos in today’s opening friendly at home to Wakefield.
He said: “Everyone has come back really determined and it’s a different attitude to last year because we don’t want to go through the trauma of 2016 again.
“It would probably be hard to pick one particular low point from last season because there were so many. Salford away, Widnes away, Warrington away... so many games when you came in next day and didn’t want to talk about it because you were upset, down, disappointed and angry.
“Going through the kind of adversity we did can only make you stronger as a person and as a team. We are just looking forward to getting back out there.”
Leeds have recruited modestly during the winter, signing Jack Ormondroyd, Cory Aston and Manly hooker Matt Parcell.
Sutcliffe is keen to rediscover his best form and form a potent partnership with boyhood hero Danny McGuire.
He added: “Towards the back end of the year I started to get a lot fitter. I lost a lot of weight that I was carrying at the start of the year, when I came back too heavy.
“This year I have come back for preseason in good shape and better prepared.
“Growing up I stood in the South Stand watching Leeds and the next thing I was running out with Danny McGuire, someone I’ve always looked up to.
“It was a bit weird at first but I’ve been playing first-team for a few years now, so it’s second nature and it’ll be great to hopefully put some performances in this coming season.”