Traumatic barely begins to do justice to Jack Walker’s injury nightmare during the past two years, but right now he is simply delighted to be back playing.
Leeds Rhinos have lost their opening three Super League games and looked anything but title aspirants in their last two outings against Wigan Warriors and Catalans Dragons.
Yet homegrown star Walker has played all three games as he looks to re-establish himself as the club’s first-choice full-back.
Richie Myler has held that mantle for the past two seasons, the majority of which Walker spent sidelined with a foot injury which resulted in a number of complications.
But, with Myler now out for the next 10 weeks after surgery on an adductor injury sustained against Warrington in round one, Walker has been given a chance to shine.
“I’m buzzing to be back playing and it was great to get another eighty minutes under my belt on Thursday against Catalans,” the 22-year-old told Rugby League Live.
“The game has changed since I last played before my injury, with the six-again rule having come in, but I’m just loving being back out there again.
“I made my debut against Doncaster in the Challenge Cup nearly five years ago.
“Then I played in the Grand Final against Castleford at the end of that season, but two years later we were fighting against relegation.
“It was tough going from such a high to a low and then getting injured for the past two years was obviously very tough to take.
“After that 2017 Grand Final, things went downhill for me, but now it’s good to be back and be around the boys again.”
Walker said Leeds’ failure to capitalise on Mitchell Pearce’s sinbinning during the Catalans defeat had left him frustrated.
He also admitted he is still working his way back to full speed and getting acclimatised to working with team-mates he has barely played with before.
“Catalans went a man down and we didn’t put the points on the board like we should have done,” he said.
“That really stings, but it’s the chemistry really because I’m almost new to the game after being out for so long.
“I’m a bit rusty and my game awareness is a bit slow compared to everyone else’s.
“I’m getting used to a lot of new players from when I last played because it’s not just a new spine.
“As soon as that clicks, I reckon we will be flying. On a personal note, if I keep knocking these eighty minutes out then I’m sure it will all come together.”
Next Thursday’s trip to Wakefield Trinity has taken on added significance for the Rhinos.
Walker said: “We go into every game thinking we can win, so nothing changes for us.
“Hopefully we can create the same amount of opportunities we did against Catalans at Wakefield but this time execute them.
“I don’t think there is anything about to worry about yet.
“Last season we had a poor start and got to within eighty minutes of Old Trafford.
“It’s like a jigsaw puzzle and a case of sharpening things up. As soon as all the pieces come together, I reckon we’ll be flying.”
Walker is also due to become a father later this year and is relishing the new-found responsibility.
He added: “My partner and I have been together for nearly four years, so it’s nice.
“We’re just short of 14 weeks into the pregnancy now and we don’t know if we’re having a boy or a girl.
“But we’ll find out in the next couple of weeks, so that’s exciting. I’m really looking forward to it.”
