Jack Walker on torn hamstring, his short and long term future and new Leeds Rhinos signings

Jack Walker has been hit with cruel luck in recent years.

After almost two years out of the game with serious injuries, the elusive fullback is hoping to put all that behind him as the Leeds Rhinos returned to pre-season training following the Christmas break.

And, after tearing his hamstring in training before the Rhinos split up for the holiday, Walker is just thankful to be back out there on the field.

“I’m buzzing to be back out there, I came back and had a week of pre-season and tore my hamstring,” Walker told Rhinos TV.

“I was a bit gutted but I’m back out there and loving it.

“There were a couple of weeks where we’ve been deliberating whether I should come back early or not but the smarter thing has been to make sure it is 100%.”

The fullback was keen to see the three new faces – Blake Austin, Aidan Sezer and James Bentley – all get a good run out on Boxing Day in the victory over Wakefield Trinity.

“We’ve got two new halfbacks so things are going to be a little bit rusty, but I think they went really well in the friendly.

“It’s feeling really good in camp, we’re just getting started but we’re a really close squad.”

For Walker, 2022 is a big year – and he knows he will have to be on his game in order to face Richie Myler away from the fullback spot in the future.

“I just want to play and be around the boys, obviously I’ve still got Richie Myler in the way.

“I’ve got the number one shirt but I still feel like I’ve got to earn it with how good he’s been.

“It’s probably one of the biggest years of my career, I feel like I need to be ready to play throughout the whole year, have an injury free pre-season and then do a job on the field.”