Potential season-ending injury and shock Blake Austin exit leave Leeds Rhinos relying on ‘kids to step forward’

Leeds Rhinos have had a strange season in which they’ve beaten some of Super League’s best including both of the top two in Catalans Dragons and Wigan Warriors, yet have racked up three losses to the bottom two of Wakefield Trinity and Castleford Tigers.

That wide array of form has left the Rhinos currently sitting in eighth spot, just four points outside the playoffs and hoping for a late charge as they did last year when they made the Grand Final.

Doing that has become more unlikely now with the news of Blake Austin’s shock loan move to Castleford Tigers and with Rohan Smith confirming today that full-back Richie Myler looks to be on the sidelines for ‘six to ten weeks’, which could end his season.

Speaking to the press today, Smith discussed how Myler’s absence and Austin’s transfer leaves them reliant on youth in the spine with recruits hard to come by this close to tomorrow’s deadline.

“Bad news comes in clusters with Richie Myler is going to be out for an extended period as well. It could be season ending, could be 6-10 weeks time frame,” Smith explained.

“We were probably hopeful that there was nothing much there but when a very experienced player says ‘me foot’s sore and it’s not settling’, then he had a couple of days in the boot over the weekend, and it was still sore so we had the scan and sort of revealed a stress related fracture in there.

“Tough guys like that that play lots of footy usually know when something’s not quite right.”

He did note there are potential ways to speed up that recovery time, but placed emphasis on not being ‘reckless’.

“Well there are some interventions there that can support and facilitate recovery and rejuvenation there.

“So we’ll be doing everything we can and Richie’s already seeking advice and we’ve got him booked in for a few things that may be able to accelerate that process.

“With every step there’s weight going through there so you know we certainly won’t be reckless but Richie’s already doing everything he can to facilitate that repair.”

It’s arguably the worst time for the injury to come with the season coming to a climax, the player registration deadline looming and the sudden and surprise nature of your star overseas half-back leaving.

“Well it’s come at the very last minute. I haven’t considered making a change to our roster in so much as quota spots have been filled. There’d been no intention to change at this point,” Smith admitted.

“We’re very committed to the squad that we had, but now the circumstances of Richie’s injury and Blake’s movement that we are going to have a quick look and see what becomes available.”

Asked on what was available, and if there were plans to bring in a new face before time expires, Smith wasn’t hopeful but used it as an opportunity to praise the young talent who will seemingly be thrust into the limelight.

“Not at this minute and in particular with it being evening in Australia, since I became aware of the news, so if something’s to happen quickly, otherwise, I love the blokes that are in our squad. They’re good young blokes that want to do well.

“With these sudden situations that have come back to back, we’ve got some kids there that are looking to step forward. Morgan Gannon will be back in the coming weeks and we’ve still got a day of the transfer window left. So much has happened in the last day, so let’s see what happens there.

“I think in some ways it gives other players the opportunity to step forward and cover and support a younger half-player in that position. Some of the more senior players get the opportunity to step forward which I’m excited by as well.”

On who can replace Myler, Smith said: “We’ve got a couple of options there at fullback and Luke (Hooley) is certainly in the picture and has been playing some good tough rugby with Batley, he’s had some really good performances and they’ve had some really tough physical games as well against Fev and away at Toulouse.”

There was also praise for Jack Sinfield who could also take a step up but Smith warned not to pile too much pressure on the son of the Leeds’ legend.

“Jack is certainly part of our long-term plans and as I said to him not too long ago, he’s sort of moved up the pecking order a little bit in the short term plans as well which is exciting for Jack and for the club but as I’ve said he’s a young boy and it’s a long term process with Jack, not a quick fix.”