The surprise Super League club from which Leeds Rhinos star Kruise Leeming was released from

Kruise Leeming has become one of Leeds Rhinos’ most consistent players in recent seasons after being handed the captaincy by former boss Richard Agar.

The Eswatini-born hooker initially came through the ranks at Huddersfield Giants to make his Super League debut in 2013.

Over 100 appearances later and Leeming made the move to Headingley, but it could all have been a lot different had he not been released from a surprise club.

“I was the one who got Kruise to Huddersfield,” Huddersfield assistant coach Luke Robinson said.

“He’s a Siddal boy like me and he’d just come back from England Academy when I asked him what he was doing.

“He told me Warrington had released him and I couldn’t believe somebody that talented didn’t have a club.”

Robinson also spoke about how highly he rates the England international.

“So I got him down to Huddersfield as fast as I could – Kruise was always going to be a good player and had the makings of somebody who can play.

“He sees the game, feels the game and is a really good touch rugby player because of that.

“One of the things he’s done over the last few years is become a leader – he’s done that in the Leeds team and he is playing really good rugby on the back of it.”

Leeming will be in the thick of the action away at the John Smith’s Stadium tonight as Leeds take on Huddersfield in what promises to be an exciting clash.