Leeds Rhinos: Singleton '˜driven' by his Cup triumph

RUGGED PROP Brad Singleton has packed more experiences into just six seasons in Leeds Rhinos' first-team squad than most players manage in an entire career.

Having been through the highs of last year’s treble success, Singleton is now seeing the other side of the coin as Rhinos occupy bottom spot in First Utility Super League.

It is not a situation he is enjoying, but the former Barrow Island amateur regards it as another valuable step on the learning curve.

“By the end of my career I think I’ll have had every experience,” said Singleton, who has 88 senior games under his belt for Rhinos.

“I am only 23 now and I have seen us win everything and now I am seeing us at the bottom of the league.

“You are learning every day and all I want to do is take little bits from everyone and little experiences and hopefully improve my game.”

Another new box will be ticked tonight when Rhinos travel to Huddersfield Giants for a Ladbrokes Challenge Cup sixth-round tie, exactly a week after losing to the same opposition, on the same ground, in Super League.

It is only the 12th time in the summer era Rhinos have faced the same opposition in successive games and Singleton said: “It is strange, but we’ve just got to do it.

“It’s do or die, with it being the Challenge Cup.

“We have got to dig deep.

“We need to look at what worked right for us last week and hopefully adjust the things that didn’t work and that they got us on and hopefully it should be a good game.

“We have to be switched on from the start, but it has been a good week and hopefully we can finish it off.”

Even with a scratch side, Rhinos pushed Giants all the way in a tense encounter which was not decided until the home team grabbed their fifth try on the final play.

It was the seventh time – out of 10 Super League defeats this season – Leeds have been beaten by fewer than 10 points, which Singleton admitted is both encouraging and frustrating.

“It was a tight game, again,” he said. “We are not going out there and getting absolutely smashed, so hopefully we can look at some little things and get the better of them this week.”

Despite Leeds’ poor run, Singleton feels the pack are playing well.