Leeds Rhinos Women promote Academy trio

Leeds Rhinos Women have promoted three of their talented young players from the Academy for the 2023 season.

Caitlin Casey, who played at Oulton Raiders, Mayzi Carter, from Shawcross Sharks and Evie Cousins, who started out at East Leeds and Guisley Rangers before playing Open Age with West Leeds, have all earned a place in the Rhinos squad for the new season.

Academy head coach Matty Bullough, who has coached the three players since they joined the Rhinos said he is proud to see how they have progressed.

"I am very pleased for the three girls making the step up from the Academy, they are prime examples of how having the right attitude and effort pay off.  They have been a pleasure to coach and I’m excited to watch them develop under Lois’ guidance."

"Caitlin is a player I have seen from a young age when she was the standout player in the mostly boys team she played for before moving up to an all girls team.  She is a cery intelligent and skilful player with an attitude second to none, she has a bright future in the game.

"Evie is a natural athlete, very quick and good on her feet, she will tear defences to pieces.  I think she will go from strength to strength training and playing with the likes of Caitlin Beevers and Fran Goldthorp week in week out."

"Mayzi optimizes our key core values, work hard, run hard, tackle hard and have the right attitude.  She has no idea how good she is and can be, which will make watching her develop and progress in the first team environment all the more exciting."

Leeds Rhinos Women Head Coach Lois Forsell added:  "We are really proud to see more players developing through our Academy to earn their place in the Super League squad.  When we set up the team five years ago we wanted to have a clear pathway for players in our region to progress.  The coaching staff in the Academy are doing an outstanding job in developing these young athletes and to see every year new players coming through our pathway shows we not only have a talented group, but also that the systems we have in place are helping them to achieve their potential."