A familiar name has returned to Leeds Rhinos’ teamsheet.
Joe Diskin was among Rhinos’ substitutes for the annual Christmas clash with Wakefield Trinity, 23 years after his father Matt Diskin made his first team debut for Leeds.
The 17-year-old former Dewsbury Moor player is under contract until the end of 2026 and now has his sights set on Super League.
Diskin was drafted into Rhinos’ Boxing Day side when Alfie Edgell suffered a broken jaw in training six delays before the game.
He joined the action at the start of the second half, playing full-back and reflected: “I loved it, I was grateful for the opportunity and hopefully there’ll be many more to come.”
Initially a full-back, Diskin moved to hooker – his father’s role – midway through the 2024 academy campaign.
“I’m not actually sure what my position is yet,” he admitted. “I can play hooker or full-back and I am happy to play in either.”
He added: “It was really good; it’s mad how much nerves do take a toll on you. I had a few dropped balls, but after that, once I settled in, I was sweet – I was in the flow of the game. I’ll be better for the experience, 100 per cent.”
Diskin is one of several academy players who have trained with Rhinos’ full-time squad in pre-season. That gives them a taste of what’s required at the elite level and allows for 13-on-13 games in practice.
“Hopefully I can push on and try and work myself into the team,” he said. “At the moment I am just learning and learning off other players, but that’s the aim in the long-run.
“This pre-season has been really good, it is tough, but I have learned a lot. The training is class, rugby league is the best job ever and to make that full-time, I’d love to do that.”
Diskin senior made the first of his 264 appearances for Rhinos and was man of the match in the 2004 Grand Final win over Bradford Bulls.
That was the first of his four Super League title wins before he joined Bradford ahead of the 2011 season. He later had spells as coach at Batley Bulldogs and Oldham.
“I am a Rhinos fan,” Joe confirmed. “I was born into it, I couldn’t not have been, could I?”
Despite the family connection, both generations are keen for the teenager to make a name for himself in his own right. “He’s a big supporter,” he said of his dad. “But he has said it’s my time now, ‘you make your own name’, which is good for me.”
