Leeds Rhinos forward James Donaldson was just 17 when he made his Super League debut for Bradford Bulls under Steve McNamara in 2009.
Fourteen seasons on, the 30-year-old Cumbrian remains a fiercely competitive presence and plans to play on for several more years yet.
Donaldson has plans in place for when he hangs up his boots, having recently achieved a 2:1 degree in Quantity Surveying from Leeds Beckett University. That is a long-term career option, but for now, Donaldson is focused on helping Rohan Smith’s Rhinos up the Super League table heading into Thursday’s trip to defending champions St Helens.
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Donaldson, who has played in all but two of the Rhinos’ 15 Super League games so far this season, told Leeds Live: “I completed my degree a couple of weeks ago, which was a massive relief.
“I was doing the course whilst playing for Leeds full-time, getting married, becoming a father last March and also moving into a new house.I would arrive at training at 7.30am, get home in pre-season mid to late afternoon and then look after my little man, Tobias.
“I’d give him his tea, put him to bed and then, at half six, seven o’clock, I would get my head into my computer and do a few hours of university work. It was like that for a long time and I didn’t have much of a social life because I had university work to do at weekends as well.
“All that brought added pressure and challenges but I’ve come through the other side of it and will hopefully reap the rewards in the future from it. My future is hopefully as a quantity surveyor, and I wouldn’t have done the degree if I didn’t plan to go into post-playing. I like maths, I enjoy working things out, and I’ve got a few connections within the industry already.
“Without Leeds Rhinos I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to go to university. The club have a great connecting with Leeds Beckett and I will be forever grateful for that. Now I have finished my degree, I can concentrate hard on my rugby and pushing to get better.
Donaldson has shown impressive fortitude to bounce back from a number of career-threatening injuries and consistently prove his worth at the highest level.
He left Bradford following their relegation from Super League in 2014 and joined Hull Kingston Rovers, where he spent four seasons.
The Robins discarded the former Wath Brow Hornets amateur, but their loss proved Leeds’ gain, and he is now in his fourth season at Headingley, having helped them to Challenge Cup glory in 2020.
Donaldson said: “This is my fourteenth season in Super League now – I debuted for Bradford in 2009. I’ve had some tough injuries, adversity with contracts and things like that, but I’ve always stuck at it.
“A lot of it is down to sheer hard work and I’m proud of that. My attitude is that I will never give in and will get the rewards. I’ve played in the middle and in the second row this season, but I think that my game has probably gotten stronger throughout the year. The competition for places is Leeds is fierce, but it’s been a good environment to make sure you turn up every day to make sure you’re in the matchday squad.”
Donaldson is also enjoying life under Smith and their more expansive style of rugby league.
“Rohan’s trying to improve us as individuals as well as a team,” he explained. We’re taking a lot more opportunities in games and I think he will take us to the next level. There is a lot of pressure which comes with wearing the badge at Leeds, given the success the club has had over the past two decades.
“We just need to keep improving with the hope that it will get us to where we want to become the end of the year.”
As Leeds prepare to face Kristian Woolf’s side, Donaldson said: “Saints are the best team in the league and have won the past three Grand Finals.
“You have to be at your best against them because they have so many world-class players – Lomax, Roby, Knowles and Walmsley – and you have to be prepared to put that hard work in more than ever. It’s definitely going to be a massive challenge, but it’s one we’re excited about.”
Donaldson is also looking forward to coming up against former Leeds centre Konrad Hurrell, saying: “He’s a great player and a great person.
“Konrad seems to be really enjoying his rugby at Saints – he’s just signed a new contract – but coming up against your mates comes with an extra challenge because you want to beat your mate and play well.”
The utility forward is contracted to Leeds until the end of the 2023 campaign and he added: “Of course I’d like to stay beyond that.
“Like I say, I just want to keep improving my game, learning under a new coach in Rohan who has got new ideas, and the rest will take care of itself.”
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