Leeming targets chance to impress Rhinos’ team-mates
LEEDS RHINOS will have home advantage when Super League restarts this weekend, but Kruise Leeming expects that to bring the best out of opponents Huddersfield Giants.
Though officially Huddersfield’s home fixture, rearranged from February when Storm Ciara made conditions at John Smith’s Stadium unsafe, Sunday’s game will be played behind closed doors at Headingley. Giants will resume their season, following coronavirus, in third place and with a 100 per cent winning record on their travels, having picked up victories at Catalans Dragons, Salford Red Devils, Hull KR and, most impressively, St Helens.
After spending the past seven seasons with Giants, Leeming knows the threat they will pose and believes they will relish playing on Leeds’ turf.
“I think they have been really good,” said the England Knights hooker. “Even when I was there, we turned over some good teams and Huddersfield always get up for Leeds away.
“It is a massive game for them, it’s a derby so they will be up for it. It will be tough and if we can get the win we will be very pleased.
“We are not going into it expecting to win, we need to play well and if we get it it’ll be a great win.”
Leeming moved to Leeds from Huddersfield last October, but has yet to play for his new club.
A knee injury suffered in training two days before Christmas led to surgery and an extended layoff, but he has been back in full training since Rhinos returned to work three weeks ago and is in contention to make his debut against his former club.
It is an unusual scenario, but Huddersfield have a player in the same situation, ex-Leeds fullback Ashton Golding also having recovered from injury and being set for his first game in different colours.
Both players will be keen to make a point, but Leeming is more interested in impressing new allies than former colleagues.
He said: “I am at a new team and I just need to prove to my teammates I have gone there to work hard and do all the right things.”
■ Hooker Brad Dwyer has signed a new two-year contract which will keep him at Leeds until the end of 2022.
Dyer, 27, joined Rhinos from Warrington Wolves ahead of the 2017 season on a 24-month deal and extended that in June, 2019.
“I have talked about how much of an honour and privilege it has been to play for Leeds Rhinos, pull on that famous shirt and call Emerald Headingley my home,” said Dwyer.