A teenage rugby union convert has been tipped for a bright future with Leeds Rhinos.
Nineteen-year-old centre Oscar Brown scored a sensational try during Rhinos’ 26-10 defeat at Castleford Tigers in Brad Singleton’s testimonial game.
Signed from Harrogate Rugby Union Club two years ago, Brown was drafted into Rhinos’ full-time squad after impressing for the academy and reserves.
And transition-coach Chev Walker, who was in charge of both lower-grade sides last year, reckons he is a player to watch out for.
“He is really consistent with that stuff,” Walker said of Brown’s long-range try against Tigers. “He did that over and over for the under-18s last year; he is an unbelievable athlete.
“His rugby league age is really young so we don’t know how high his ceiling is. He is a great kid who works hard and wants to get better. He’ll be one to look out for.”
Brown trains with Leeds Rhinos’ first team, but hasn’t yet been awarded a squad number. “That was probably his 15th game of rugby league in total,” Walker added of Sunday’s match.
“He is learning rapidly. I think being in and around the first team environment is really fast-tracking him, but we just need to be patient with him.
“He is a great kid to coach, he retains things and picks things up really quickly so the more he plays, the better he’ll get.”
Of Brown’s prospects of going on to first team rugby, Walker said: “It comes down to character and he has that in abundance.
“He has the resilience to be able to dig in. He knows he is going to make mistakes and he is all right with that.
“While he has got that attitude towards it, he will keep improving. He is going in the right direction, he will be good and it’s exciting to be part of his journey.”
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