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Leeds Rhinos prospect nearing end of injury nightmare with full horror revealed

A horrific injury nightmare could be nearing its end as one of Super League’s most promising young prospects in Leeds Rhinos’ Max Simpson prepares to make a long-awaited comeback.

Rhinos’ rookie centre Max Simpson has not played for two years but hopes to be back on the field when Leeds’ reserves season begins in March.

Simpson, now 20, burst onto the Super League scene at Easter, 2022, only for an ankle injury suffered in a defeat at Toulouse Olympique to end his season after four games.

He made a comeback in that year’s Christmas challenge match against Wakefield Trinity but suffered anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) damage at training the following month and has not played since.

Leeds showed how highly they regard Simpson by extending his contract – until the end of 2026 – during his layoff and he is now itching to repay that faith to the Rhinos.

His return will be a boost for a backline already weakened by the loss of star wing import Maika Sivo who sustained a similar knee injury during last week’s Ash Handley testimonial game against Wigan Warriors.

“Obviously I have a bit of training to build up, having not played or trained in a while,” Simpson said.

“I’ll be looking to get fit first, but I think I’ll maybe play when the reserves start. After the ACL I got eight-nine months in – when you should be returning – and I was close.

“I was training in pre-season, but then I was two weeks off, then another two weeks and it just kept adding up.

“It became normal that I don’t play, that’s what I have done for two years, just turn up and do rehab and train.

“It is a bit strange, but after a while it just becomes normal. It shouldn’t, but it does get frustrating when it keeps getting put back and put back.”

Leeds Rhinos young star reveals details of horror injury

- 08/01/2025 - Rugby League - Betfred Super League - Leeds Rhinos Media Day - AMT Headingley Stadium, Leeds, England - Max Simpson.

Credit: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com

The recovery time for an ACL injury is usually around a year, but Simpson explained: “I had a couple of setbacks with my patella tendon, where they take a graft for your ACL.

“I had a few niggles with that which kept dragging on, then at the end of last season – in September – I went to Sweden to have an op on that and it has all been positive since. Hopefully it is looking a lot better now. It is definitely a lot better than before the op.”

On the Swedish connection, Simpson said: “It’s not a very common operation. We spoke to a specialist down in London and he said sooner or later I’d be better off having the op.

“He said ‘You can’t wait forever, you’ve tried everything’ – the physios here are top physios, it’s not something they weren’t doing or I was doing, it was just a case of we’d tried everything and it wasn’t working.

“The specialist was over in Sweden and it was pretty smooth. Simple’s not the right word, but he made it look that way – you just rock up, have the operation and walk out. It has been good since.”

Rhinos have stood by the Leeds-born player and he stressed: “I can’t thank them enough for what they have done and how they’ve been during my injury.

“If I didn’t extend I would be in the final year of my contract now, having come off not playing for two years.

“It would have been a lot different situation, but I am thankful the club did do that and showed faith in me past the injury.”

Jamie Jones-Buchanan, now a club director, bounced back from potentially career-ending injuries as a teenager to become a Rhinos legend and Simpson is using his example as inspiration.

“I have spoken to Jonesy,” he confirmed. “He is around the club a lot and I sat down with him a couple of weeks ago.

“He had some really bad injuries and it’s good seeing someone like him and the career he had.

“Ryan Hall had knee issues and he is one of the best wingers in the world at 37. These injuries don’t mean you have to knock three-five years off the end of your career.

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