Kruise Leeming is taking tips from rugby league legend Martin Offiah as he bids to captain Leeds Rhinos to glory this season.
The former Huddersfield Giants hooker has been promoted to skipper by head coach Richard Agar ahead of the new campaign.
Leeming has been outstanding in his two seasons at Headingley and recently struck up a friendship with Offiah as they share the same agent.
Simon Dent launched a new talent agency called Hero, which works closely with current and retired sports stars on commercial matters and charitable causes.
Leeming told Rugby League Live: “As someone who grew up watching and playing rugby league, I always knew about the legendary players such as Martin Offiah, Shaun Edwards and Ellery Hanley.
“I’ve really grown close with Martin over the last three or four months after we were introduced through Simon.
“I am running various ideas past him and it’s just nice to be in touch with someone who reached such a high echelon of the game.
“Martin wasn’t just a generic player who played the game for 10 years and then that was it. He was an icon and we talk about that a lot because it’s something that resonates with me. I don’t just want to be another player – I want to leave my mark on the history of the game like Martin did.
“It’s not just rugby we talk about, though, because obviously he was a winger and I play as a hooker.
“That said, he did score an unbelievable amount of tries, so we do speak about me being in the right place at the right time.
“But really we talk about life in general and our careers, such as what Martin did after he finished playing rugby and what he might have done differently if he had his time again.
“Rubbing shoulders with a rugby league great such as Martin can only benefit me.
“You’re a product of your environment and the more superstars and iconic sportsmen I can surround myself with, hopefully that rubs off on me and I can end up doing something really special too.”
Leeming is gearing up for a big year and is confident Leeds can mount a genuine title challenge as he prepares to prove he is a worthy Rhinos captain.
“I think we’ve always had the team to do it but we’ve just been growing every year,” added the 26-year-old.
“A team like Leeds Rhinos is like Leeds United in that we command such fantastic support.
“The whole city gets behind you here in Leeds, whether that be in football or rugby, and I’ve really felt that through the messages I’ve got.
“It feels like we have got something growing here because we’ve been building for a long time and I think we’re coming out of that building phase now and can actually challenge for titles.
“I’m over the moon to be captain, I really am.
“I’m absolutely buzzing and I can’t wait for the season to start.”
