Leeds-born Rhinos winger Ash Handley reflects on honour of captaining his hometown club

IT is not often – if ever – that Ziggy Niszczot and Warren Boland get mentioned in a Super League press conference.

However, the fact Leeds Rhinos coach Richard Agar did reference them after Sunday’s 20-18 win at Wakefield Trinity says plenty about his encyclopedic rugby league knowledge.

Admittedly, though, its main aim was to explain just how rare it is for a winger to captain a side as Ash Handley, the prolific wideman, had just done for the first time with the Headingley club.

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As Agar noted, it was in the early 1980s that Niszczot did so for South Sydney and Boland likewise for Western Suburbs while, of course, he also referred to the more famous leadership skills of the great Clive Sullivan before them.

Handley’s unexpected chance came given Leeds – playing a fourth game in just 10 days – were missing their usual captain, Luke Gale, and a raft of other senior players.

“It was a bit of a surprise,” he told The Yorkshire Post.

“Rich told me the day before and we didn’t really have any time to train as we’re playing so many games at the moment.

“It was a massive honour for me. It is a bit strange for a winger to be captain, if I’m honest.

At the double: 
Rhinos winger Ash Handley scores his second try on the day he captained the side for the first time against Wakefield.

Picture: Jonathan GawthorpeAt the double: 
Rhinos winger Ash Handley scores his second try on the day he captained the side for the first time against Wakefield.

Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe
At the double: Rhinos winger Ash Handley scores his second try on the day he captained the side for the first time against Wakefield. Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe
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“I said a few words before we went out and a bit on the pitch. But, for me, it’s more about leading by example rather than all the talk. It’s more about what I do.”

Handley certainly did plenty, scoring two tries to take his tally for the season to 20 but also producing one remarkable 70m run to set up Liam Sutcliffe plus countless other carries to get his side moving from deep in a real tense battle against their West Yorkshire rivals.

Although still just 24, the Great Britain tourist – who represented England Nines last year – is part of Agar’s leadership team at Headingley.

“I love working with Rich,” said Leeds-born Handley.

Betfred Super League.
Wakefield Trinity v Leeds Rhinos.
Rhinos Ash Handley gets away from Trinity's Ben Jones-Bishop.
1st November 2020
Picture : Jonathan GawthorpeBetfred Super League.
Wakefield Trinity v Leeds Rhinos.
Rhinos Ash Handley gets away from Trinity's Ben Jones-Bishop.
1st November 2020
Picture : Jonathan Gawthorpe
Betfred Super League. Wakefield Trinity v Leeds Rhinos. Rhinos Ash Handley gets away from Trinity's Ben Jones-Bishop. 1st November 2020 Picture : Jonathan Gawthorpe

“He’s done a lot for me and helped me in a lot of ways.

“He doesn’t control what I do performance-wise but he’s brought a lot of confidence to me and given me a senior stature in the team.

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“As a Leeds lad, it was an incredible honour. There’s been some great captains at this club already so it was nice to follow in their footsteps even if it is just going to be for one game.

“I don’t mind that. I’ll hold onto my 100 per cent record! I didn’t think about being captain too much, to be honest. I just thought about my normal game and I was chuffed with how it went.”

Having won the Challenge Cup at Wembley last month, the victory over Wakefield – having lost 30-6 to the same opponents last Thursday – keeps alive Leeds’ hopes of reaching the top-four.

However, Friday’s home game against Castleford Tigers has been cancelled after Castleford reported another four positive Covid tests.

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Tigers’ match versus Huddersfield Giants suffered the same fate last Friday after the club recorded 13 positives so, in total, they now have 17 players out of action due to the pandemic.

It is no surprise Monday’s game against Salford Red Devils has also been cancelled and the RFL’s Multiple Cases Group has extended the shutdown of the club.

Leeds would have hoped to have tried to increase their win percentage and chase down fourth-placed Catalans Dragons.

However, at the same time, they are clearly in need of a rest as well.

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“It’s just been hectic hasn’t it?” conceded Handley, with Rhinos’ only remaining scheduled regular round game now a contest with Wigan Warriors.

“With everything going on, you can’t complain. If you’d have said to us when we were in lockdown that you’re going to play all these games we’d have bitten your hand off. It’s a lot to take on but you’d rather be doing it than not.

“It’s a shame we’re not playing Cas’ but we are looking forward to a few days rest now and we go again when we play Wigan.

“That’s where we can get the win – we can’t control what Catalans do – and hopefully we can be in that top-four by the end of the year.”

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Agar said: “Ash has come on leaps and bounds and he leads by actions and behaviours.

“He is really assuming seniority. We just thought it’d be a great experience and real privilege for him to captain the side.

“He’s one of the guys that I thought carried us on his back for big periods of the game.

“It might be a bit unusual having a winger as captain but I knew it’d inspire him. He certainly contributed and he’s earned the accolade.”

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