Long-serving Liam Sutcliffe believes Leeds Rhinos are ready to re-emerge as genuine title challengers in 2022.
The popular centre was part of the last Leeds team to win a Grand Final in 2017, when legendary duo Rob Burrow and Danny McGuire enjoyed a glorious last hurrah in the blue and amber.
Sutcliffe feels the arrival of Blake Austin, Aidan Sezer, David Fusitu’a and James Bentley could help Richard Agar’s side pose a serious threat to the likes of champions St Helens.
The 27-year-old said the return of Richard Hunwicks, who worked at Headingley between 2007 and 2013, as the Rhinos' new performance director had given the squad a major lift.
“There is a lot of belief in the camp that we can go on and do something special this year,” 27-year-old Sutcliffe told Rugby League Live.
“As a club, Leeds should be up there challenging and it’s disappointing that we’ve not done that in the past few years.
“But I think last year was a step in the right direction and the four new signings have all been class during pre-season, so I’m sure they will prove great additions for us.
“You can just tell in training, on and off the pitch, what they’re going to bring to us this season.
“There is a different feel to the squad this year and everyone is really pumped.
“I’m going to give a big rap to Rich Hunwicks as well because the stuff he’s brought in has been great and everyone has really bought into it.
“The game is getting faster and more physical every year, so Rich is great not just with what happens on the training ground but also your rest, recovery and sleep.
“Everyone is coming into training flying every day and there is a lot more professionalism around the place now.
“The ideas that Longy (Sean Long) and Jonesy (Jamie Jones-Buchanan) have brought on the field have been well received by the players too, so there is a lot of belief around in the camp.
“Hopefully we can get back to a Grand Final.”
The 2017 title success against Castleford marked the realisation of a dream for Sutcliffe, a Leeds lad who grew up supporting the Rhinos.
He missed the two major finals during the famous 2015 treble-winning campaign due to a season-ending ACL injury.
Sutcliffe said: “When we won the Grand Final in 2015, I went on the pitch afterwards and I was buzzing with the result.
“But to then win it in 2017 was an unbelievable feeling.
“We knew we had won it with about 10 minutes to go and it was a relief.
“I played the full eighty minutes and just wanted to soak it all up and enjoy the moment.
“Everyone was hugging each other and it’s a bit of a weird feeling – it’s like a craving.
“I’ve done it once and I want to get back to Old Trafford.
“Likewise with Wembley, I’ve won two Challenge Cup finals in 2014 and 2020 and I’m dying to get back there too.”
Sutcliffe’s future at his hometown club was in serious doubt when he handed in a transfer request in 2020.
In the end, he did a u-turn and decided to stay, signing a new deal 12 months ago which keeps him at Headingley until the end of the 2024 season.
Sutcliffe, now fully fit after microfracture surgery on a knee injury, explained: “I put in a transfer request in 2020 because I had a whole host of thoughts going through my head during lockdown.
“It was up in the air about what I was going to do and I spoke to my agent and my parents, but circumstances can change.
“I got a run in the team at centre – my favourite position – and we ended up winning the Challenge Cup.
“The decision takes me to the age of 30, so staying here definitely turned out to be the best decision. Now I want help us get back to the top.”
