York Knights forward Oli Field will be one of many players returning to Leeds Rhinos on Friday night, and it is something he is relishing.
The back rower will feature for York in the club’s Super League round two game against the Rhinos, in what is only Field’s, and the Knights’ second-ever top flight game.
Field came through the Rhinos scholarship system, and joined the side at the age of 14, making his way up to reserve grade, though he never landed his opportunity in the first team.
The Wetherby Bulldogs junior was awarded a Super League squad number ahead of the 2022 campaign, but he never got the chance to appear in the side, and instead was loaned out to a number of lower tier clubs.
In 2023, he joined York on a season-long loan, and has admitted it was at that point he fell in love with the club, and hasn’t looked back since moving to North Yorkshire.
Field will return to Headingley for the first time on Friday night, as the Knights take on Leeds – an occasion the 23-year-old is certainly looking forward to.
Mikey Lewis’ moment of madness, shock Super League results and World Club Challenge Preview – Click here to watch the latest episode of The Serious About Rugby League Show
Speaking in a press conference to preview the game, the son of former Rhino Jamie Field spoke on his exit from the Rhinos, and how that move has shaped him into the player he is now.
“It was a pretty big decision at the time,” he explained. “Obviously I was full-time at Leeds and I just kind of got a bit fed up with playing in the reserves. The reserve comp wasn’t great at the time. I felt like, for me, I just wanted to be playing first-team rugby.
“Originally it was a loan to York but I ended up here and loved the club. I felt some really good form and it just made sense to stay. With the vision that Clint was building towards, which is obviously what’s happened, so it’s been great.”
Field is one of a number of players who could return to their former club, including Paul McShane, Ben Jones-Bishop and Jordan Thompson – all of whom are ex-Rhinos.
A game against your former club will always mean a little bit more, but the former England youth player will be out to prove a point on Friday night.
He said: “Potentially… more to myself than anything else I think. There was a few different reasons [why I left]. Obviously it didn’t go to plan last time I was there.
Yeah, I think I made the move at the right time when I did to go to York. I think it was the right decision and at the moment it seems to have paid off. My goal was to always get back to Super League and I’m glad I’ve been able to do it with York.
The last three and a half years have been pretty special and the way we’ve built back up has been great.”
