Harry Newman is one of England’s most promising Rugby League players, who at just 20-years-old has plenty of playing experience already under his belt.

In 2017, Newman would make his professional Rugby League debut for the Rhinos as a teenager in one of the biggest fixtures in the Super League calendar no less.

“My Debut Game came as a shock, it was the week before the first team were playing in the Challenge Cup semi-final and I got told I had a chance of playing this week. To even think I had a chance of playing against Wigan didn’t seem real at the age of 17, but then I got named in the 19 man squad and Jamie Jones handed me my debut shirt,” Newman tells Everything Rugby League.

“I was more excited and thinking about playing on television for the first team which probably took most of the pressure away but I was still nervous before the game. However, once I’d had my first involvement in the game, nerves soon disappeared and even though we lost I enjoyed every minute of the game”

During the 2018 and a small portion of the 2019 season, Newman played for Championship side the Featherstone Rovers under a dual registration deal.

Newman found these periods to be very beneficial to the progression of his game.

“I loved every minute of the time I spent with Featherstone, I played among and against some fantastic players who helped develop me as a player.

“The experiences of playing away games at Leigh and Toulouse, and the Summer Bash weekend at 18 knowing I had to perform each week for Featherstone to make the play offs,  that helped me to mature as a player. That meant I was able to get used to the physical side of the game which would prepare me for Super League.”

In 2019 the Leeds Rhinos began to rely more of their youth and put their faith into younger players such as Newman.

This would result in the winger playing 20 Super League games for the Rhinos last season and earning a place on the shortlist for Super League Young Player of the Year.

“During the games last year it was about getting used to Super League week in week out and learning what parts of my game needed work on in order for myself and the team to improve this year, so last year Rich [Agar] stuck with me week in week out even though some weeks I knew I’d had a poorer game.

“To be nominated for young player of the year and experience the Super League awards night was incredible however this year I’ve put so much work into pre-season to improve the defensive and attacking side of my game as well as physically to handle the demands of Super League. During lockdown, I have been training hard to make sure that when we go back I’m in the best shape possible to continue to perform.

“It would be great to win young player of the year as a personal accolade, however, we are only in round five and anything can happen. I’ve just got to focus on performing week in week out for the team and getting Leeds back to where they belong. If we as a team do this then accolades such as young player of the year could potentially come with that, however, what is more important is winning trophies with the team which is my main aim for this year”

Newman’s set on doing his part in bringing some silverware back to Leeds and at this point in time would love to do so for years to come.

“Right now I haven’t thought about what is going to happen in the future, all I know is I’m contracted to Leeds for the next 3 seasons including this year and I wouldn’t want to be playing anywhere else right now.

“We as a team need to get this club back to the top, and we will be doing everything to do so for the fans and the club. I love it here at Leeds and have been here since I was 14/15 years old.

“I am totally committed to Leeds and haven’t thought about any potential prospects”