Leeds Rhinos match winner George Brown has opened up on the nerves he felt stepping off the bench on Boxing Day against Wakefield Trinity. Brad Arthur’s side edged out Wakefield 18-16 at Headingley to end the calendar year on a high and get their pre-season campaign off to a winning start.
The Australian named a strong starting XIII that featured a host of new signings, including the likes of Ryan Hall, Maika Sivo and Jake Connor, with the latter making the difference in the first half. Starting at full-back, Connor scored two tries on his first appearance in blue and amber to get the home side up and running.
Wakefield hit back and actually took a lead in the second half as Noah Booth, Seth Nikotemo and Dom Sinfield scored, but it was the heroics of Brown, who capitalised on a bouncing ball to touch down, that handed Leeds the win.
Ultimately, with over six weeks to go until the two sides play their first competitive games of the season in the Challenge Cup third round, the result wasn’t overly important. However, Arthur will be heartened by his side’s showing as they ready for themselves for the year ahead, particularly in the first half with the Australian naming a side that can be considered close to the one that will face Wakefield once more in the first round of Super League.
Changes were made after the break, of course, and Brown was one of the youngsters who made his mark after stepping into the fold, but the academy half-back was just grateful for the opportunity.
“It was really good,” Brown told Leeds Rhinos’ official site. “I was nervous coming off the bench but the starting boys put a great platform down to let us do our job when we get on and they laid that well.
“When you get on there’s a few boys that are in the same position so you know you’re not alone but really good, good to get that experience with the boys that you’ve played with for a few years now.
“In training that starting line up has really been pushing us, they’ve been driving the standards big time. It’s been good for us, people like Crofty and Frawley, we’ve been learning off them and helping develop our games.”
On the game itself, Brown added: “It’s really useful, it gives you a taste of what it’s like, there’s some bigger bodies and stronger blokes out there. It lets you get a taste of it and see what you’re up with.”
