Leeds Rhinos star James Bentley is aiming to continue his impressive club form in a “mad, rollercoaster year” when he takes the field for Ireland in the Rugby League World Cup. Bentley endured a nightmare start to his Headingley career after being sent off on his debut in the televised season-opener at home to Warrington Wolves in February.
He was banned three times in his first eight games for Leeds and ended up being suspended for nine of the club's first 17 games this season. As the year unfolded, though, the close-season signing from St Helens more than proved his worth, emerging as a key figure for Rohan Smith’s side in the back row as they reached the Grand Final, where they lost to all-conquering St Helens.
Bentley told Leeds Live: “Obviously it was bitterly disappointing not to get the win at Old Trafford but it was a mad, rollercoaster year. If you had said at the start of the year that we would end up in the Grand Final then overall I’d be pretty happy with that.
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“Personally I was pleased with how I finished playing for Leeds at the end of the year. I’m just hoping to take that form into the World Cup with Ireland now.”
Bentley has won a handful of Ireland caps since making his debut in 2018 and is optimistic about their chances of reaching the quarter-finals. The likes of Leeds team-mate Richie Myler, George and Toby King, Robbie Mulhern, Harry Rushton, Luke Keary, and Louis and Innes Senior are in Ged Corcoran’s squad.
Ireland are in a group which includes Jamaica, Lebanon and New Zealand and Bentley added: “I know quite a few of the boys and there are some new faces in camp as well. I’ve enjoyed training with the lads and my mum is Irish, so I’m proud to represent her.
“I’ve got quite a bit of family in Bangor in Northern Ireland – my Nan, aunties, uncles and cousins. When I was little, I used to have family holidays over there. It’s nice to be based in Leeds during the World Cup because everything is on my doorstep and my family is nice and close.
“More importantly, I reckon this is probably the strongest Ireland squad I’ve been involved with. We’ve got some really strong combinations coming together and I’m looking forward to getting out there. We’ve got Jamaica first up at Headingley next Saturday, so we’ll just chalk the games off and see where we end up.”
Bentley, meanwhile, reckons Leeds can continue to emerge as a coming force under Smith.
“I think we’ve got a lot to build on, on the back of this year,” said the boyhood Rhinos supporter from Morley. Obviously that’s a long way off, but we will focus on that during pre-season after the World Cup.”
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