An emotional Harry Newman could not hide his delight after ending a seven-month injury nightmare with a try on his long-awaited Leeds Rhinos comeback.
Traumatic does not even begin to do justice to the highly-regarded centre’s plight during the past two-and-a-half years. He suffered a horrific double leg break in 2020 and was restricted to just seven appearances last season due to a series of serious hamstring problems.
That cruelly robbed him of the chance to play in the Super League Grand Final against St Helens and left him sidelined for England’s World Cup campaign. Yet the sight of the homegrown 23-year-old racing through to score with his first touch against Wakefield at Headingley on Friday night – just moments after coming off the bench in the 56th minute – was heartening.
Read More: Harry Newman's show-stealing return results in unsung Leeds Rhinos heroes gaining credit
“I was over the moon because I’ve been out seven months, but I felt strong,” said Newman, grinning from ear to ear, after the 26-0 win against Trinity. I was blowing a bit towards the end, but that was expected because I haven’t done much full training. But to be back out there, especially at home, was fantastic.
“I felt good and I was eager to get on, you probably saw me running up and down the touchline. We had a plan all along, I’ve been out for a while and we planned to play 25-30 minutes. Next week will probably be a bit longer and the week after a bit longer than that.
“I’m just happy to be back and grateful to everyone who’s helped me over the last seven months get back to where I am.”
Newman celebrated his try with gusto being being mobbed by his delighted team-mates. The Yorkshireman, a fierce competitor, added: “Everyone knows I am passionate, that has been my game all the time I’ve played here, ever since I started coming through.
“It’s what I dream to do, play rugby and when you get a chance to play at Headingley, a facility like this, sometimes emotions can get the better of you. I love playing at Headingley. The crowd’s fantastic, it was snowing all day – horrendous – and they still turned out like that and supported us the way they do.
“We had a tough first half, but we spoke at half-time about just grinding the win out. On nights like that you’ve got to do that and I thought in the second-half we started really strongly and obviously finished the game well.”
Nobody was about to begrudge Newman his moment in the sun, or rather the freezing cold following a game played in sub-zero temperatures. The question now is whether Newman will continue to be eased in off the bench or whether Rohan Smith will restore one of Super League’s most talented young players to his starting line-up.
“We will just build it up slowly and eventually I will get back to playing each week and 80 minutes,” said Newman. We’ve spoken about taking training differently, not necessarily having full days every day and just priming for game day when needed.”
Newman revealed the depths of the torment he had suffered through injuries in his embryonic career.
“It hasn’t just been the last seven months, it has been the last two and a half years, since my leg break,” he said. " I missed the Challenge Cup final with that, came back, played 10 games and did my hamstring.
“I came back again, played seven games, started playing well [and it happened again]. I missed the World Cup and the Grand Final and it has been tough. I am only 23 and I’ve had some big injuries, two operations and a broken leg. To be back out there on Friday was a step forward and a start, but there’s a long way to go yet.”
England coach Shaun Wane is a confirmed admirer of Newman, who had been earmarked for a key role at the World Cup until injury struck.
As Wane pens a new chapter building towards the 2025 World Cup in France, Newman could emerge as a fulcrum of the side in the centres. England play France in a mid-season Test match on April 29 and Newman admitted: “Everyone wants to play international rugby, that’s the goal for anyone.
“But I’ve just played 25 minutes; there’s a long way to go before I feel I am ready for that and I want to get back to my best for Leeds first. That’s my priority, playing 80 minutes here, week in, week out.”
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