A Leeds Rhinos forward who missed long parts of 2024 has explained the major improvement he’s made during his time away that will benefit the club entering the 2025 Super League season.
Tom Holroyd played just six times in 2024 with the 23-year-old ruled out for the latter half of the season and not playing after Round 14.
Two long-term concussions limited his play time but having returned in the off-season the prop is eager to make his mark in 2025 and make good on the promise he showed in 2023 when he played 24 times.
“I’ve got a couple of games under my belt now back from the concussion so I’m building nicely into the season,” the prop said on the Leeds Rhinos YouTube channel.
He will form a pack that has been bolstered by the off-season signings of NRL prop Keenan Palasia and fellow overseas man Cooper Jenkins whilst the reports in pre-season are that big bopper Sam Lisone is looking the best he’s ever been during his time in England.
Holroyd could get one more chance to impress before the Super League season starts with Leeds set to host Wests Warriors in Round Three of the Challenge Cup this weekend.
Leeds Rhinos forward highlights key improvement made after lengthy lay-off
Credit: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com
Reflecting on his difficult 2024 campaign, Holroyd has labelled it as “frustrating” and he’s certainly glad to be at the end of the lay-off.
He explained: “It was pretty frustrating because at times I felt I could play but I was held back by the protocol but that is all part and parcel of it. I’m over it now and happy to be on the other side of it.
“The club have looked after me and the doctors did the best that they could and I’m obviously in a really good situation now where I can in back to back to games and be in training with the contact we’re doing.”
Part of his preparedness for 2025 comes from the intense pre-season that Leeds Rhinos have undertaken, with many players noting it as the toughest they’ve ever been involved in and Holroyd has credited some of that to new assistant coach Jamie Langley
“Lamngers (Jamie Langley) has definitely put us through it in the combat room so I feel prepared for what is to come,” he argued before revealing what the former Bradford Bulls man has added.
Holroyd noted: “He’s just got that hard-nosed nature I think and he’s really detailed and has driven us in the right areas where I think it will really go well for us in the season.”
With such an intense pre-season and the fact that Holroyd was laid off from contact for so long in 2024, the Leeds prop believes he is far fitter – something that will only benefit the Rhinos.
“I think I’ve come back a lot fitter,” he argued.
“I’m in a lot better shape than I was last year, I think that’s a massive part of my position physically. You want a middle who can play a lot of minutes and be out there and I’m ready for that this year.”
