It is getting on for five years since an 18-year-old Jack Walker capped a dream debut season at Leeds Rhinos by helping his hometown club to Grand Final glory. Brian McDermott’s team beat Castleford Tigers at Old Trafford in October 2017 and Walker was picked ahead of Ashton Golding in the full-back role. It was some show of faith in a player who started the season in the Rhinos’ academy side.
Walker had announced his arrival onto the first-team scene with a hat-trick on his senior debut against Doncaster in a Challenge Cup tie at Headingley in April of that year. Walker, then 17, was handed his big chance with a number of star names rested. A Leeds lad who played his amateur rugby at Oulton Raiders, Walker’s ability to support the attack was highlighted with three classy finishes during the first half.
Walker’s bow marked the realisation of a dream after he fractured his skull when playing for Oulton in his formative years. Two years later, he signed a professional contract with Leeds. McDermott handed another debut against Doncaster to an 18-year-old Mikolaj Oledzki, who came off the bench in the 50th minute and got on the scoresheet himself.
