Leeds Rhinos young star Presley Cassell is loving his rugby at the moment after another win for the club’s reserves in which the forward scored two tries.
An impressively healthy Super League squad has seen players such as last year’s breakthrough talent Cassell playing in the reserves for Leeds Rhinos, so it’s no surprise to see their winning run continue.
They defeated Huddersfield Giants 62-4 on Saturday with Cassell among the try-scorers in a team that also featured the McCormack brothers, winger Riley Lumb and first-team forwards Jeremiah Mata’utia and Ethan O’Neill.
Speaking post-match in a video shared to the Leeds Rhinos YouTube channel, Cassell was welcoming of the opportunity to get minutes under his belt as he praised the result.
He said: “We didn’t have a game last week so we were all pretty keen for this one and it was good to get out there against a pretty strong Giants side.
“It’s good that everyone is getting a game and we can build on this.”
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Leeds Rhinos young forward improving week on week
The 21-year-old forward has spent time on loan with in the Championship and with Huddersfield Giants in Super League this season, whilst plenty of other reserves players have been sent out on loan but Cassell welcomed the chance to get minutes under his belt.
“It was good to get some minutes in the tank with no game last week. Keep the body fresh and hopefully I keep getting a run of games,” he said.
Cassell has played just once for the Rhinos so far in Super League this year with squad depth ensuring he and others remain out of the frame, however, the young talent has claimed that simply drives those in the reserves to be better and be ready for if and when they get the call-up.
The forward said: “Yeah, obviously Brad is pretty clear on the depth of the squad. We have a lot depth and a lot of strong depth.
“The first team are all healthy at the minute which is really pleasing and they’re performing really well so I think that pushes us to be even better, so when our chance comes we’re ready to take it.”
As for his own personal improvements, Cassell said: “Week in week out, yeah. I ended last season on a high but had a bit of a tough start to this year, rugby and off-field, but I’m loving rugby at the minute playing with these boys every week and playing wherever. I just want to play rugby week in week out, so I’m really happy and hopefully can keep building on it.”
