Liam Sutcliffe is a Leeds lad through and through. He burst onto the scene as a teenager in 2013 and was a key player in an injury hit season for the Rhinos.
By 2014 he was a Challenge Cup winner and in 2015 he was seen as the heir apparent to Kevin Sinfield. Injuries got in the way of his potential in the halves but by the end of 2017 he was cementing himself as a centre winning the Grand Final scoring a vital try in the semi-final against Hull FC.
He also played a massive role in the centres in Leeds’ 2020 Challenge Cup Final win and is set to start another final in the centres for Leeds come Saturday against St Helens as he looks to win his second Super League title.
He and Tom Briscoe are the only two remaining members of the 2017 side which defeated Castleford 24-6 to be crowned Champions that are available to play on Saturday with Jack Walker injured and finishing the season on loan at Hull FC.
Speaking of Hull FC, a move to the Black and whites means that Saturday will be both Sutcliffe’s and Briscoe’s last game for Leeds and for Sutcliffe there would be no ‘crazier’ way for his Leeds career to finish than with a Grand Final win.
In an interview with BBC Radio Leeds, Sutcliffe said: “Me and Tom have talked quite a fair bit to be honest, how crazy it would be if we got to the final and obviously we’re there now, and how crazy it would be if we actually went on to win it.
“It will be emotional for a few boys, I’m sure they just want to enjoy the week, same as me.”
🗣 ‘I wouldn't know whether I'd be crying with sadness or happiness.'
🏉 @leedsrhinos star Liam Sutcliffe expecting emotional occasion at Old Trafford on Saturday as he hopes for fairytale farewell.
Full interview
🎧 https://t.co/19xDsmQrQW🦏 #leedsrhinos pic.twitter.com/1m2vwIsK4s
— BBC Sport West Yorkshire (@BBCWYS) September 20, 2022
He then went on to open up on the mix of emotions he’s set to feel as the curtain comes down on his Leeds career: “It’s hard to put it into words, I don’t know if I’ll be crying with sadness or happiness. It would be a thing of dreams to be sent off with a ring and stuff like that. I’ve not thought about it too much, I don’t want to get overwhelmed with it too early in the week, I just want to enjoy the week and whatever happens on Saturday happens.”
The question remains, will Sutcliffe leave Leeds as a two-time Grand Final winner?
You can watch his full interview here.
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