Liam Sutcliffe returns for Leeds Rhinos after seven-month absence
Friday 22 January 2016 18:06, UK
Liam Sutcliffe is tipped to pick up from where he left off when he makes his comeback from a knee re-construction on Sunday.
The 21-year-old is the man given the job of filling the boots of Leeds captain Kevin Sinfield, who bowed out of rugby league on a high in October by leading the Rhinos to the treble.
Sutcliffe was forced to watch on from the sidelines as Sinfield lifted the Challenge Cup, League Leaders' Shield and Grand Final trophy after sustaining major knee damage in a game against Hull in June.
Seven months on, Sutcliffe is ready to make his return against Bradford in the Carl Ablett testimonial match at Headingley and, speaking at Leeds' pre-season media day, admits he cannot wait.
"I'm very excited," he said. "I just want to finally get back out there and get some minutes under my belt. It's been a long time since I last played. It's been really tough. Rehab is a lonely place but it went according to plan and I was always targeting this game as my first game back.
"It was massive personally to miss out on all the big games but then again we won all three trophies and it's a team sport and I was buzzing for all the lads."
Sutcliffe had actually forced Sinfield out of the Rhinos side in mid-season and was playing the best rugby of his life when the injury struck and coach Brian McDermott insists his role in their ultimate success should not be under-estimated.
"Sutty was a big part of the reason why we were good last year," McDermott said. "In some of our best games offensively Sutty and Maggsy (Danny McGuire) were our starting half-back pairing.
"We certainly missed him when he was injured and we had to adapt and evolve. Kev came back into the team and we pushed on which was great. He is a talent and we rate him. I think he will go well again this year."
Sutcliffe insists he will not be fazed at the prospect of taking on Sinfield's playmaking duties in 2016.
"Obviously what he has achieved over the last 10 to 15 years in this team has been unbelievable and he's going to be a massive miss," he said.
"But I don't want to think about taking over Kevin's position, I just want to concentrate on myself and try and make a name for myself and help the team perform and hopefully win some more trophies."
