Rising star Morgan Gannon has revealed Leeds Rhinos’ new recruits have already raised standards and added a new professionalism to Richard Agar’s squad.
Blake Austin and Aidan Sezer have arrived from Warrington Wolves and Huddersfield Giants respectively and will form a new half-back partnership in 2022.
St Helens back-rower James Bentley will strengthen the Rhinos’ pack and winger David Fusitu’a will arrive later this month after the club booked his flights to the UK.
Gannon, who enjoyed a highly impressive breakthrough campaign in 2021, believes the quality of Leeds’ new signings will offset the departure of key men such as Luke Gale and Konrad Hurrell.
The 18-year-old back-rower told Rugby League Live: “We’ve obviously lost a couple of key players but the recruitment we’ve done during the off-season has brought in some really high-quality players.
“In the first couple of weeks of pre-season, that has shown.
“They have brought everyone up to their levels and the club as a whole has taken another step in terms of professionalism.
“When we have done drills in training, the new lads have made sure there is no cutting corners and that it’s done to the best of your ability.
“Having that intensity in training – every drill we do is really intense – gets the most out of it.
“I think that’s what the new lads (Austin, Bentley and Sezer) have brought.”
Gannon is confident the partnership which Austin and Sezer enjoyed at Canberra Raiders can deliver the goods to Leeds’ benefit in 2022.
“Obviously they have had that partnership before at Canberra, so I think they will just slot into our system,” he said.
“It’s really exciting for us as a team.”
Gannon made 13 appearances for Leeds in 2021 and can reflect on an outstanding breakthrough year.
He was man of the match when the Rhinos beat Huddersfield Giants 18-12 at home in August.
Agar said after the game: “We don’t want to put too much pressure on Morgan too early but he’s a very smart, level-headed and lovely kid who is going to be a very, very good rugby league player.”
Gannon remembered: “That Huddersfield game at Headingley was probably one of the best games I played last season.
“I got man of the match as well so it gave me a lot of confidence, knowing I could do it against the best players in England.
“That game is probably one that sticks out. Who were my toughest individual opponents?
“Kai Pearce-Paul and John Bateman were a handful when we played Wigan away towards the end of last season.
“Pearce-Paul has got a great offload and him and Bateman is a great competitor, so that was a tough game.
“But overall I have learned so much throughout the past year.”
