Academy Player Diaries: Bobby Hartley

This Saturday sees a handful of players from the Leeds Rhinos Academy get the opportunity to continue their development under Paul Anderson in the England Performance Programme as the final Academy Origin match of 2023 takes place at Warrington's Halliwell Jones Stadium.

One of those players is forward Bobby Hartley, a mainstay of Tony Smith's side throughout 2023, who has played in all but one match in his debut Academy season. The forward, who was scouted from East Leeds by the Rhinos for the Scholarship programme, was thrown in at the deep end earlier this season in the opening game against Newcastle Thunder and he hasn't looked back since to score two tries and start in six out of his nine appearances this season. 

Reflecting on the year so far before he entered Yorkshire camp, he said: "I speak with the coaching staff all the time about how I came in at the start of the season and I've improved loads."

"I've got smarter, my skill has improved. I've also been working hard in the gym as well so that has helped me to adapt. The fact that players like myself, Mason [Corbett], Harry [Taylor] have been around the matchday squads is because we've trained hard and played well. It's good that our efforts have paid off."

At half time of the Rhinos' last home game against Leigh, the club unveiled it's 2024 Academy intake, a record number in the club's history. Twelve months ago, Hartley was signing his first professional deal with the club too and said he is looking forward to connecting with his former Scholarship team mates.

"I can't wait to meet the new guys and get going with them. I remember that we only lost two games with them in 2022 and this year, they've had a good one too. They're all quality players and they showed that last year, but one in particular is Presley Cassell. Me and him  partnered up quite well so it will be good to reconnect."

Keep up to date with the final Yorkshire vs Lancashire match on the England Rugby League social channels, and make sure to see the Rhinos Academy next in action against Huddersfield next Friday night.