Leeds Rhinos boss Rohan Smith sees new recruit Luke Hooley as a supporting cast member initially at Headingley but with the potential to eventually take centre stage. The full-back, who has worked with Smith in the past during their time together at Bradford Bulls, has been a revelation for Batley Bulldogs in the Championship.
He scored 30 tries in 55 appearances and played a pivotal role in helping the club to reach the 2022 Million Pound Game. Hooley has joined Leeds on a two-year deal and head coach Smith told Leeds Live: “I see Luke as a talented player who has taken a different pathway to get this Super League opportunity.
“He’s been at a Super League club previously (Wakefield Trinity) but he went to Batley and has done a great job. Craig Lingard, the head coach there, has done fantastically well with the way he has brought Luke’s game on. I saw Luke as a very young player in 2016 and the maturity and development within his game is evident. He’s certainly grown a lot as a player.”
