A LEGEND IN THE MAKING

Leeds star Newman has bounced back from broken leg heartbreak to become one of the game’s most exciting talents

St Helens v Leeds Friday, 7.45pm THIS time last year Harry Newman was reeling from a devastating broken leg that would shatter his Wembley and play-off dreams.

Fast forward 12 months and the Leeds Rhinos centre stands one win from Old Trafford having re-established himself as one of the most exciting players in Super League.

Newman’s injury ruled him out of the Challenge Cup final win over Salford and the Rhinos’ play-off campaign. He returned to action in July.

The 21-year-old was one of the stand-out performers in Thursday’s gritty 8-0 win at Wigan and has put his lay-off nightmare behind him ahead of Friday’s semi-final showdown with St Helens.

“It was tough – I was out for 10, 11 months,” said Newman. “It was 12 months to the day last Friday that I did it. The day before and it would have been a year exactly to when we played Wigan.

“There are definitely some tough days along the way.

“It goes through your mind you might never play again or you might not play as well as you did before, or become the player you want to be in the future.

“I got through those days really well, tried to move on to the next day and focus quickly on what I needed to achieve step-by-step.

“That helped massively and when I got out on the field, it was just getting my confidence back up in my leg and taking the impact again.”

Newman was already in England coach Shaun Wane’s plans before the injury last year and he is seen as a potential World Cup starter in 2022.

But for now all his focus is on St Helens – who brushed aside the Rhinos 40-6 earlier this month.

Newman said: “That result a few weeks ago was a tough one to take but we had nowhere near our full strength side out on that day. We know we’re capable of a lot better.

“When it gets to this time of the year, one game away from the big one, that result doesn’t really matter – it’s all about Friday night.

“Our start this week is massive. We know they will come out all guns blazing and they’re used to playing in these types of games. Handling their big fellas is important but we’ve got all our big fellas back. I’m sure it will be a great contest.

“We’ve suffered quite a bit this year with Covid and injuries but to get to this point of the year and be one game off the Grand Final, credit goes to the group and staff here.

“It’s the biggest game so far in my career, I’m up for the challenge and so are the team.”