Callum McLelland’s buzzing to be back in the thick of things at Leeds Rhinos

Callum McLelland goes over to score his first Super League try for Leeds Rhinos against Salford Red Devils on Friday.
Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe. — Callum McLelland goes over to score his first Super League try for Leeds Rhinos against Salford Red Devils on Friday. Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe.

ROOKIE LEEDS Rhinos half-back Callum McLelland is “buzzing” at being back in the thick of the action and itching to make up for lost time in a pivotal year.

McLelland played eight times for Rhinos in 2020, but underwent ankle surgery at the end of the campaign and then suffered a groin injury early in pre-season.

He made a brief comeback as a substitute in Rhinos’ defeat at Catalans Dragons on July 16, but started against Salford last Friday after captain Luke Gale was omitted.

The 38-16 victory at Emerald Headingley was Rhinos’ first game without a limit on the crowd since March last year.

Cameron Smith is tackled by Salford's Jack Ormondroyd.
Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe. — Cameron Smith is tackled by Salford's Jack Ormondroyd. Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe.

McLelland was among Rhinos’ try scorers and admitted he is “buzzing to be back”.

He said: “You couldn’t have asked for a better occasion, with all the crowd being back.

“To play with almost a full-strength side, against tough opposition, I couldn’t have asked for a better game to come back to.”

Of his own performance, McLelland reflected: “I thought I went all right.

Leeds Rhinos' Kruise Leeming salutes the crowd after scoring his second try against Salford Red Devils on Friday. Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe.

“I’ve been out for seven months and about 60 minutes in is when the game speed starts to get to you a bit.

“I had a bit of cramp here and there, but I was all right.

“It helped with our forwards getting us on the front foot.

“I thought Cam Smith changed the game when he came on, he gave us a different dimension in attack and helped me out massively.”

McLelland’s only previous try for Leeds Rhinos was in their infamous Challenge Cup defeat at Bradford Bulls two years ago.

Last Friday’s touchdown got him off the mark in Betfred Super League and means he won’t face the traditional nude run punishment for players who fail to score in a season. “It’s my first Super League try,” he said.