Exclusive: Andy Ackers details ‘brilliant’ dynamic within new-look Leeds Rhinos spine

New Leeds Rhinos signing Andy Ackers has lauded the brewing connection between the new-look Leeds Rhinos spine. 

Ackers swapped Salford for Headingley back in October, but he is one of four new signings in the core spine positions this off-season-with Matt Frawley, Lachie Miller and Ackers’ Salford teammate Brodie Croft also penning deals to bring them to West Yorkshire.

Three of the four made their debuts in the Boxing Day victory against Wakefield Trinity, with Croft likely to make his maiden appearance in Rhinos colours this weekend against Hull KR; but speaking to Serious About Rugby League, Ackers detailed the ‘brilliant’ dynamic already forming between this new group.

“It’s brilliant,” he said. “Frawls (Matt Frawley) is a great, experienced player now and Lockie (Lachie Miller) is absolutely lightning. He’s got a lot to add, I think he’ll light Super League up and I think people should get excited about watching Lockie because he’s some player. I only played the Boxing Day game with him but I’m excited to see what he’s like against Hull KR.”

He added: “I think Super League is going to be excited for this new Leeds Rhinos era.”

Whilst Miller and Frawley will be new faces to Ackers, he will again partner up with Brodie Croft following the pair’s switch to Leeds Rhinos this off-season.

The duo were at the heartbeat of a free-flowing Salford attack and helped push Paul Rowley’s side to become regular play-off contenders.  This partnership will now continue in blue and amber this season, and Ackers said not much has changed in their style of play.

“Brodie and I have a good relationship with each other and we’ll be adding our part. To be honest with you, nothing’s changed in mine and Brodie’s game. We’ve been told basically to just go out there and just play our own game and have our experience and I think that’s what we’ll do, when we get our opportunities I think we’ll take it.”

Andy Ackers on the Rhinos desire to improve

There is no escaping it, 2023 was a tough season for Rohan Smith’s side. Much was expected of them following the miracle run to the 2022 Grand Final, however inconsistent performances on the pitch, coupled with high-profile exits off it led to an underwhelming eighth-placed finish.

But with disappointment comes a desire to improve, and Ackers touched on how the squad are all ‘buying into’ a winning mentality

“I think everyone’s bought in. Rohan has a philosophy of the right person and right player; so you’ve got to have the right people in an organisation to go forward, the right attitude and a winning mindset,” he said.

He further exclaimed: “I think everybody here, 1-40, I mean everybody on the team, all have a winning mindset and that’s only good going forward for the club so we’re looking to bring that silverware back and we’ve got every opportunity to do so.”

As Ackers mentioned, it is the entirety of the first team squad that want to improve, and this includes the promising core of young academy graduates within the senior set-up at Headingley.

Jack Sinfield, Morgan Gannon and Corey Johnson have all seen plenty of Super League game time in recent seasons, and the likes of Max Simpson, Alfie Edgell and Tom Nicholson-Watton are also starting to impress at senior level; and Ackers has lauded the efforts these younger players have made within the group.

“There’s young kids here, 16 year olds, 17 year olds kids training; I’ve never seen an attitude like it before,” he said. “They’re turning up an hour early before training, doing their extras, they’re staying an hour after-like young Fergus McCormack, Ned McCormack and Presley Cassell.”

“They’ve got some good future here at the Rhinos.”