Leeds Rhinos hosted Wakefield Trinity earlier today in the traditional Boxing Day game and with an experimental side featuring plenty of youth and new signings it was one of the players that fell into both categories that caught the eye.
Leon Ruan signed from League One side Doncaster earlier this year and the 19-year-old was very impressive as he made the most of the game time that he got.
The young forward was integral to one of Rhinos’ four tries and when asked about it on the side’s Youtube channel he talked through his emotions as it happened.
“It was just I think a case of Dickie with a nice little tip ball to me, I didn’t really expect it. It was all a blur because it happened that quick, I just remember Kruise screaming and so I just tipped it on and luckily he was there. I don’t even remember seeing him,” Ruan recalled of his first assist in a Rhinos shirt.
Ruan impressed off the bench in the loss and was certainly one of the more impressive Rhinos with Smith citing him in the press conference referring to the three-year contract and plan in place for Ruan.
Asked about the switch from League One to Super League, more so in training than in the match given it was a friendly, Ruan was incredibly positive in his response.
“Yeah, bloody hell when I first started every single week for the first two or three weeks I don’t think I finished training without going home and falling asleep by four of five o’clock.
“I think I’m adjusting to it physically and mentally, it does take a toll on your body but we’re looked after and managed well enough so we make sure we’re 100% for training every week so yeah it’s been good, I’ve really enjoyed it.
“We’re nearly there now with a full team back in, there’s only one or two missing but when everyone’s back after the New Year we’ll all be raring to go and build into the season and however I impact on it I hope that goes as well as it can.”
Rhinos had injury news just last week of Mikolaj Oledzki and Luke Hooley both being ruled out for much of pre-season whilst Nene Macdonald is still recovering from an injury attained at the World Cup, but Ruan and co will continue to build in their run up to the season opener against Warrington Wolves.
