Blake Austin knows a formidable squad alone is not enough to win a Super League title – his three seasons at Warrington Wolves taught him that.
The Aussie playmaker joined Leeds Rhinos during the winter along with former Canberra Raiders team-mate Aidan Sezer, James Bentley and David Fusitu’a.
The recruitment drive which has harvested that quartet has encouraged hopes that Leeds – eight-time Super League winners – can add a ninth title to the Headingley trophy cabinet.
Austin is optimistic about their chances but has pointed to his time at big-spending Warrington, who have thrown bucketloads of cash at trying to win a title but have not been crowned champions since 1955.
Austin said: “We have all the tools to win silverware this season but, when you have spent three years at Warrington, you come to learn that a strong squad is not enough.
“You’ve got put it all together and I think, if we can start the season well, it will ease the pressure and go a long way towards being a good year.
“We have a pretty good idea of what it’s going to take to be a team to be reckoned with this coming season.
“The players who have been brought in have added to what is a really formidable squad.”
That reference to Warrington's relative lack of success during his three years there – they beat St Helens in 2019 Challenge Cup final but Austin missed the game through injury – is in no way a jibe towards his old club.
He enjoyed his time at the Wolves but, when Steve Price left at the end of last season and Daryl Powell arrived, Austin was off-contract and not offered a new deal.
Moving to Leeds suited him as it has reunited him with Sezer and he will face Powell’s Wolves at Headingley in round one on Saturday, February 12.
Asked about coming up against Warrington on the opening weekend, Austin said: “I had no real feelings either way because there was always going to be some excitement around round one with it being my first proper hit-out for the club.
“Obviously a lot of other people will make a much bigger deal out of it than what I will.
“It’s just great to be in front of the home crowd, for sure.
“Saturday afternoon at 12.30pm is a wonderful time slot and Headingley is a wonderful backdrop for such a match.
“I enjoyed every minute of my time at Warrington. When you come across the other side of the world with your family, you’re pretty anxious and pretty nervous.
“Warrington, and the people I met along the way there, made that pretty easy.
“Part of the reason I’m still here [in England] is because I look back on those times quite fondly.
“I really enjoyed being at Warrington but that’s come and gone now and I have spoken about leaving the club a few times now.
“It’s irrelevant and I’m enjoying my time at Leeds. Bring on the season.”
Richard Agar’s Rhinos face three potential title contenders in Warrington, Wigan Warriors and Catalans Dragons in their opening three fixtures in February.
Austin knows the importance of making a positive start as Leeds look to justify the hype surrounding them in pre-season.
“It’s a really good chance to see where we’re at, but Super League is a long old season and the results in the first three rounds aren’t going to have too much of an effect,” added Austin.
“But I think it’s really important that we’re happy with the brand of footie that we’re playing.
“At the end of those three weeks, we’re going to know whereabouts we are but we’ve got all the tools we need and we’re very confident in the squad we have.
“We’ve just got to settle on a really nice brand of footie pretty early and that will carry us through the season.
“I think that’s what has allowed Saints to stand out these last few years.
“The difference between their best and their worst is not very big.
“They very rarely beat themselves and they’re always in the match.
“They are things that we are talking about. We are by no means trying to emulate anything that anyone else is doing.
“But we’ve got to not lose a game before we can win a game and that’s what we’re focusing on.”
