Wakefield Trinity v Leeds Rhinos - Final disappointment the spur for Jack Walker

The England Knights star was gutted to be overlooked for the Challenge Cup final success over Salford Red Devils a fortnight ago.

Admittedly, Walker had only recently returned from a broken foot and scrum-half Richie Myler had excelled in his absence, also duly winning the Lance Todd Trophy after being given the nod by head coach Agar.

However, Walker told The Yorkshire Post: “It was tough to take.

“But Rich had a very valid reason. I’d not played that many games and it was tough to take someone out like Richie Myler who, in my opinion, was the best full-back in the comp’ at that time. He was playing really, really well and you can’t exactly take him out just because I was back; I have to earn my place.

“It was hard to take but it was the right call. Richie played very well on the day as well.”

Ironically, Myler is now on the sidelines, forced to self-isolate as one of four Leeds players – Tom Briscoe, Matt Prior and Konrad Hurrell are the others – due to track and trace after the Covid outbreak at Castleford Tigers.

That kept him out of Thursday’s 30-6 loss against Wakefield Trinity so Walker has the spot for the foreseeable future, including tomorrow’s rematch with Wakefield at Belle Vue.

That will be a fourth game in just 10 days for Leeds – fourth in 11 for their opponents – as the hectic fixture schedule starts to bite.

Rhinos desperately need a win to keep up their bid for the top four although Super League clubs are meeting on Monday to discuss ending the regular campaign early and extending the play-offs to the top-six which would certainly aid Agar’s side.

Walker, 21, said: “We’ve been talking about the title as soon as the Challenge Cup was over; we want a double, to show we can back it up and to make sure we don’t put the cue in the rack.

“Personally, I just want to get more games under my belt and, hopefully, I will get that jersey for the Grand Final if we do get there.

“That was only my fourth game back on Thursday. I’m just starting to get some spring into my step again so I am looking forward to playing some more.

“I thought that was Wakefield’s best game this year but we were poor ending our sets. We can fix that for Sunday.”

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