News & Star Sport Haven
Leeds Rhinos rookie ready to face home-town team Whitehaven
by martin morgan
Last updated at 11:32, Saturday, 23 January 2010
Leeds Rhinos boss Brian McClennan has no fears of throwing in Whitehaven-born rookie talent Jared Stewart for his first-team debut against his home-town team tomorrow (2pm).
Jared StewartThe ex-Recre scholarship kid only turned 17 on Thursday and will be given his big chance off the bench alongside another Cumbrian teenager Brad Singleton, from Barrow.
“They will be fine and will have some pretty experienced players around them,” ‘Bluey’ said.
“Willie Poching will introduce them at the right time and monitor how they are going, from a coaching point of view. Our senior players will also have an eye on them, on the field. Jared and Brad Singleton have risen up the ranks really quickly, starting at Under-16 and in to the Under-18s, and we’ll get them some experience playing in this game.”
Ex-haven prop Kyle Amor will start for the Rhinos, while Ian Kirke, a Grand Final winner with Leeds last season, will open his pre-season account following minor ankle surgery.
“To get three Cumbrian lads playing in a Rhinos team – we are pretty excited about that,” McClennan added.
“They are young but very talented and we have high opinions of them at the club. All three have great potential.
“Kyle’s improving each week, you can see it.
“He’s got the respect of all his team-mates, and you can’t ask for more than that when someone new comes in to the squad.”
Haven boss Ged Stokes is well-known to McClennan from their coaching days in New Zealand and they met up again last week at Headingley.
“He came down with the coaching staff to visit for a couple of days and it was really good,” said the Leeds coach.
“We enjoyed it and I hope they did too.
“It makes us even more excited to get up there to catch up with those lads again.”
First published at 09:01, Saturday, 23 January 2010
Published by
www.newsandstar.co.uk
Is this a first in the clubs history 3 cumbrians in the same side ?
