David Fusitu’a reacts to life at Leeds Rhinos

Leeds Rhinos brought down the curtain on 2021 with a 34-6 win over Wakefield Trinity on Boxing Day.

The Rhinos gave debuts to new signings Aidan Sezer, Blake Austin and James Bentley all of whom caught the eye. Sezer especially did so scoring Leeds’ first try of the game converting it to level the contest before kicking another two goals.

However, there was no David Fusitu’a. The winger arrived in Leeds this month but wasn’t ready to play in the festive friendly with Jack Broadbent instead being trusted on the wing alongside skipper for the day Ash Handley.

However, the NRL’s top try scorer in 2018 did make his first appearance in front of the fans at Headingley when he came out before the game to talk about his ambitions going into 2022 getting the fans excited for the new campaign.

With Headingley listening intently, Fusitu’a said: “I feel really welcome here. It’s been awesome, the lads are really welcoming and helping me along, showing me around.

“We’ve got an exciting group this year and I’m looking forward to see how we go.

“I’m really excited and really looking forward to playing in front of the fans here at Headingley. I’ve heard a lot of great stories about it and have been looking forward to walking out for the first time in front of fans.”

However, he didn’t seem overly impressed by the weather noting what his first British Christmas was like: “It was cold but it was a new experience for us and luckily we had a few friends and family that are here with us.”

Fusitu’a will likely make his first Leeds appearance against Hull FC in Tom Briscoe’s testimonial as the Rhinos will identify this fixture as the friendly they’ll use to prepare for Super League most likely operating with a full strength side with Fusitu’a playing in the wing spot Briscoe used to hold himself. However it’s possible Richard Agar will want to give him more game time in friendlies against Bradford or Hunslet.

His Super League debut will likely come at Headingley against Warrington in front of the Channel 4 cameras.