Rhinos Academy in focus: Wade White

Ahead of every Rhinos Academy game this year, an Under-18s player will share more about themselves and their journey so far in Rugby League, their development in Chev Walker's team, and offer insight into the Rhinos camp.

As the side prepares for a trip to face Salford Red Devils on the other side of the Pennines this weekend, full back Wade White was next up to talk about his electric start to the season:

Tries have come in twos for full back Wade White since the King Cross Park junior player made his Under-18s debut at The Jungle against Castleford last month.

Two tries against the Tigers were followed by two more a fortnight later as the Rhinos breezed past Huddersfield Giants - White scoring a length of the field effort in one of the highlights of the game. Last time out against the Bulls, White helped amass 80 points with two second-half scores to move himself to the top of the Rhinos' try scoring charts with six tries in three starts.

Like many of his first-year Academy teammates, who signed their first professional deals to move up to the Under-18s Academy, White has slotted into Chev Walker's system alongside the likes of Presley Cassell, Joe Diskin, George Brown and Harry Smith, who are in their second and final year in the Academy competition. With a particular focus on improving the team's defensive efforts, the Rhinos have been reaping the rewards for their efforts in attack as they have scored 200 points and conceded only 22, White said that is down to the collective work the team are doing off the field.

"I just think it's the hard work we put on the pre-season, personally and as a team," he said. "We've been working very hard just to get to the end goal and try and push for a good season. People play parts throughout the whole team, and in those little moments, I've played mine. 

"At the end of the Scholarship season, I moved from half to full back and I'm pretty sure I made a positive move. I've played a lot better moving in that position, and I do want to lock that down for the rest of the season. I feel like I've improved a lot just being with the older ones showing us how it is a quicker speed, with more skill. The adjustment level is a lot bigger than I was thinking, but I think I've improved quite a bit. [As a team] it's all work together to get the end goal of winning."

White forms part of a lethal spine partnership with Brown, Smith and Diskin, who played together during the 2023 Scholarship season. After an extra year under Mark Butterill, White's move up to the Under-18s has given the quartet a chance to rekindle their creative flair.

"They're adapting to how I play and I'm adapting to how they play, but I think over time we're just going to keep getting better and better. We fit well together and that's helping get us the results."

Salford await the young Rhinos next on Saturday lunchtime, and although White is looking to help the side secure it's fifth straight win for the first time since 2022, he also has ambitions of getting minutes in the Reserves too after four first year Under-18s players made their competition debuts last time out against Hull FC.

"For the game against Salford, I think we just need to adjust to the travelling as it's far. We just need to be able to go straight away as soon as we get off the coach.

"On a personal note, I want to obviously push myself and see where I can get to. Being in the Reserves would definitely be a thing that I'd accept and be delighted to be a part of if I get the opportunity."