It's great to be back - Leeds Rhinos captain Courtney Winfield-Hill excited for Women's Super League return after 18-month Covid break
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A mere 555 days after Rhinos beat Castleford Tigers in the 2019 Grand Final, completing the Betfred Challenge Cup-Super League double, they will finally begin their defence against York City Knights tomorrow.
The entire 2020 season was wiped out because of coronavirus, but a full campaign is planned this year with matches initially being played behind closed doors at two venues, including Rhinos’ Weetwood Sports Park base for fixtures west of the Pennines.
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Hide AdIt has been a long time coming and Leeds captain and reigning Woman of Steel Courtney Winfield-Hill feels the competition’s return will be a weight off all the players’ shoulders.
“It’s a bit like when you’ve been on holiday, but you’re really keen for that first day back at school, to see all your mates,” the Aussie half-back said.
“Perhaps I’m the only girl who used to get excited about going back to school, but it’s not just me – all the girls are incredibly excited.
“It has been a long time and not having Super League has left a big hole for a lot of us. I’m really excited and looking forward to Sunday.”
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Hide AdWinfield-Hill is confident it won’t take teams long to get back into the swing of things, despite a year and a half off the field. Rhinos have been training for six weeks and she said: “Usually, we’d have at least three months. We’ve had a shortened pre-season, it may not have been quantity, but it was certainly quality.
“I think we’ve got some really great kids coming up from the under-19s who have now joined the senior programme so I think our depth is good and it will be tested this year.
“We’ve still got Covid hovering and a lot of potential injuries, given the long time off and short pre-season, but I am pretty certain it won’t be too long until we are hitting our full straps.”
The England women’s performance programme has continued during the layoff and Winfield-Hill reckons that will help Rhinos, whose squad includes a host of potential World Cup players.
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Hide Ad“There’s a really good nucleus of Super League players who have had good-quality training across the Covid period,” she added. “They have come back into Rhinos and those girls are looking really good, really sharp.”
In a situation unique in the Leeds club’s history, their coach, Lois Forsell, is about to begin maternity leave.
“She has driven a really high-quality pre-season,” Winfield-Hill said of the former England player who succeeded Adam Cuthbertson as team boss at the end of last season.
“She has done a tremendous job, the baby was due last Thursday and I can’t quite believe she was still there at training, on her due date, but she was.
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Hide Ad“We’ve got Ant and Dave Gibbons who are assistant-coaches and will step in for Lois until the time comes when she’s able to get the baby settled and into a routine.
“Knowing Lois, it won’t be too far away. She is incredibly committed and passionate and she will be back sooner than we know.”
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