“Our owner loves the buck” – Leeds Rhinos star tells “funny story” about being forced to play friendly

Leeds Rhinos’ end to the 2022 season was immense as they scored vital wins over the likes of Wigan Warriors and Warrington Wolves to storm to an unlikely Grand Final.

After a poor start to the season which saw them as low as 11th, Rohan Smith took over in May and sparked a revival.

The Rhinos battered Hull FC at the start of a run of form that saw them finish in the top six as high as fifth.

They then defeated Catalans Dragons away before a semi-final win over Wigan propelled them to an unlikely Grand Final against St Helens where they unfortunately came up short.

It was a great end to a season for the Rhinos and it could be celebrated in a brilliant occasion in a friendly against New Zealand at the end of the season.

However, the Rhinos were soundly beaten by the Kiwis with many players already in post season mode or focused on the World Cup.

Now, speaking on the JBK show, Blake Austin has told a “funny story” behind the game and being forced to play in the game.

“I’ve got a funny story actually. So we played in the Grand Final, right? And our owner, he loves the buck. Any chance to make a bit of money he loves it right,” Austin said.

“So we finish our Grand Final you obviously have mad Monday so we have Monday, Tuesday and we have a bit of a drink.

“The following Saturday he’s organized a game for us to play against New Zealand, just after the GF when we’ve just been on the piss for five days.

“Ten of our boys were in Ibiza and got back two days before the game and our owner was adamant that if you didn’t show up and play for this match, he had the right to terminate our contract.

“So poor Rhyse Martin was, he’s due to play in the World Cup for PNG, and he says, Gary, ‘if I get injured in this match, I miss a World Cup, can you excuse me from this match?’

“He pulled out his contract and read him word for word exactly why he had to play in the match so oh man it was it was the weirdest experience.

“The funny story is I looked at the Kiwis team and I thought you know what we’re half a chance. It was like 82-6 or something I’m like I fractured my eye socket. We didn’t even want to be out there.”