Academy Spotlight: Lore Jones-Buchanan

This season has been full of firsts for members of the Leeds Rhinos Under-18s Academy, from first international appearances, to first tries and more. 

Lore Jones-Buchanan made his first starting appearance under Tony Smith last week against Hull KR and ss the forward follows in the footsteps of his dad Jamie by playing in the club's academy, the Stanningley youngster said that he feels like he's found his feet in the side.

"At the start of the season, I wasn't really sure what position I was playing at first. It was between second row and prop but I've managed to make my way into prop so I think I've developed well and made my way into a position," he said. 

"I thought I'd do better at back row but since I've been playing prop, I've found it more enjoyable. I've been getting more ball time and tackling in, which is better for me. We're a close group in the forwards. If we don't know anything, we can always ask each other and during games if we've done anything wrong, we'll get told what we need to do better. It's good to be a part of.

"On Saturday, I thought we did really well. It's one of the best starts we've had to a game, but in the start of the second half we had too many dropped balls. I was part of that but I think as soon as we sort our concentration out, we'll be really good." 

Although his year has had its breaks through injuries, Jones-Buchanan reflected on the last nine games that has seen the young Rhinos rally from losing their first three, to winning five of their last six outings.

"The start of the season wasn't so great, but now we're back on top of everything and winning games. Compared to those first games, everyone's developed a lot, everyone's got really high skill now, and we've stuck together as a team. We've been supported through the process by Tony and the staff; if you don't have good support you're not going to develop so I'm really glad I've had the good support that I've had. 

"I think everyone's doing really well coming to end of season so hopefully we can get these last three done, win them all or go to the playoffs."

This week gives the Under-18s time to recuperate from three home wins as Smith prepares his side to take to the road three times in August. A rematch with Wakefield Trinity comes at the start of the month, after the Rhinos took a 62-12 win away from Trinity at Stanningley in May, before an important clash with Warrington Wolves could be a deciding factor in Leeds making the top four. A fixture with Bradford rounds off the regular season, and Jones-Buchanan backs the young Rhinos to perform down the stretch.

He said: "I hope to just win all of our games. If we win them and get to the play offs, we can definitely win that too. I hope to get picked for the games so I can hopefully develop even more and test what I can do and what I need to better develop myself again. 

"It's been really helpful that we're all developing together well as a team. Our communication is way better, and knowing what we're doing on the field is  better as well. Playing as a team really helped us recently, and we need to do the same in these last three games too."

The Rhinos Under-18s are next in action as they take on Wakefield Trinity on Friday 2nd August at the DIY Kitchens Stadium, kick off 7pm.