Jones-Buchanan tips Rhinos youth to excel

But the 33-year-old former England man insists the next generation of youngsters are ready to plug the gaps if injury problems strike.

The Rhinos have added just one senior player – Australian pack man Adam Cuthbertson – to their squad for 2015, with experienced back Ben Jones-Bishop and props Ryan Bailey and Ian Kirke all leaving the club.

Jimmy Keinhorst, who has made 22 Super League appearances, has been promoted into Rhinos’ top-20 to replace Jones-Bishop while squad numbers 21 to 24 are taken by Josh Walters, Andy Yates, Elliot Minchella and Robbie Ward, who have 21 top-flight games between them.

Academy players Ashton Golding and Ash Handley both impressed in Rhinos’ opening pre-season win over Wakefield Trinity Wildcats and James Duckworth, Luke Briscoe and Rob Mulhern all remain at the club despite being too old for the under-19s and not allocated a 2015 squad number.

It could be a steep learning curve, but Jones-Buchanan said he has no fears about what will happen if Leeds coach Brian McDermott is forced to dip into his reserves.

Jones-Buchanan said: “Ash Handley was brilliant on Boxing Day and Ashton Golding was really solid and quick at the back as well.

“I thought all the young kids really stood up and that is a theme that Brian Mac is really into this year.

“This is a season when we need to have a really good start and if you pick up a few knocks and injuries here and there – which we did last year and I was a big part of the injured group – you need strong lads to come in, with a real mentality to work hard and perform.

“In the last couple of months of pre-season, that is where we have been going. We’ve had some long days and every day has been really intense.

“That is all aimed at getting the young boys conditioned and ready to have that mentality to go out and perform, like they did last week.”

Jones-Buchanan, who made his debut as a 17-year-old in May, 1999, added: “This club has always put time and effort and invested well in youth. Maybe in the last few years we’ve not had as many coming through as we need to, but certainly now there’s some real quality lads there.”