Ryan Hall on his Headingley return, Boxing Day and Leeds Rhinos’ NRL signing

Leeds Rhinos’ signing Ryan Hall has spoken ahead of the club’s Boxing Day clash with the winger set to make his second debut for the club.

Hall makes his return to Leeds Rhinos after six seasons away from the club. During that time he headed Down Under and then returned to Super League, coming close to conquering the competition once again last year whilst at Hull KR.

The winger did conquer it in the sense that he claimed the all-time try-scoring record but another Grand Final win has eluded him, as it has Leeds Rhinos.

Being away from the Headingley club for so long has meant no Boxing Day pre-season games although Hall confirmed he had been in attendance, albeit just as a fan in recent years.

He told the Leeds Rhinos YouTube channel: “I haven’t played a Boxing Day game in quite a few years. I’ve actually been invited every year to the boxes upstairs with a good friend and I’ve enjoyed watching it with a few wines in my hand but now I’ll be experiencing it from a playing point of view again.

“It will be good to just get back playing and get back into the Rhinos colours – I’m just trying to gel with the team.”

Leeds Rhinos’ legend Ryan Hall previews Boxing Day clash

Head coach Brad Arthur has already named his starting XIII with Hall set to start in what is a very strong team that features all five new signings in the squad.

At 37, Hall will be among the oldest players in Super League next year but his pre-season work has impressed Brad Arthur who had namechecked the winger previously.

In response to that, the ever-modest winger explained: “I’ve only done what I’ve always done and I did what was done before me, learning lessons from some very good people. All I do is turn up to training and do my job and I do it with the best intent that I can.”

Previewing Thursday’s opponents, Wakefield Trinity, Hall said: “They had quite a good season last year, I know they were playing in the Championship and that they were expected to do what they did I think but now they’ve got a few new faces themselves in there.

“They’ll bring a good game and that’s what we want, we want to play against a good opposition.”

With all five new signings set to feature on Boxing Day, it means that fellow veteran winger Maika Sivo will feature and Hall has highlighted what could be one of Leeds Rhinos great strengths, should both men play together a lot.

Asked about the Fijian, Hall said: “He’s great. It’s great to have another big athlete on the other side. It’s nice when we’re kick returning to get some good yards and some quick play the balls to make the set easier.

“That’s what I always try and do and Maika certainly does that when he carries the ball as well so it’s nice to have that.”