Rejection from Super League greats Leeds Rhinos could have left Owen Trout flapping but instead he’s doing swimmingly.
The rangy Huddersfield Giants forward is celebrating an England Knights call-up ahead of Wednesday’s trip back to Headingley. Trout, 22, came through the Leeds academy alongside young guns like Harry Newman but only played one senior game. He then moved to Giants as a makeweight in the 2019 deal that saw Rhinos sign star hooker Kruise Leeming .
But Trout has excelled with the Super League high-fliers who hope to end Leeds’ five-game winning run. He played in the Challenge Cup final earlier this season and has now got the nod for Knights alongside pack colleague Oliver Wilson. Leeds loose forward Cameron Smith and Wakefield flier Lewis Murphy - who’s scored 14 tries in 18 games in his debut season - have also been drafted in.
Knights face France B in Bordeaux on Saturday October 1 and then play Scotland in Edinburgh a week later as the Bravehearts conclude preparations for the World Cup. But Trout - who helped England Academy beat the Australian Schoolboys - hopes to eventually make Shaun Wane’s senior squad. He said: "I said at the start of the year Knights was one of my goals so I was very pleased when I got the call.
“It’s always the main goal of English players to represent your country. It’s a big honour. Hopefully I can keep on going through the ranks. We had a meeting and it’s one of the things they said: they showed all the players who have gone from Knights up to the full squad so hopefully I can do the same. When I got the offer (to join Giants), I had to look at what was best for my own personal game. And I feel like it’s done me wonders. I’ve got more game time, made more appearances and it’s been great.”
With only three games remaining - in the space of just ten frenetic days - Huddersfield still harbour hopes of stealing second spot from Wigan who beat them in the Cup final at Spurs in May. But either way, Trout, back after missing the win over Castleford, feels Ian Watson’s side can crack on and reach a first Super League Grand Final. He said: "It’s been our goal from the get-go, what we’ve always said from pre-season. Our goal hasn’t changed. And I’ve full faith that we can go all the way.”
Leeds have surged into fifth on the back of their stellar run and see captain Leeming return tonight after seven weeks injured. Trout added: “They are in a bit of form at the moment and we know it’ll be a challenge but we’re confident we can do the job.”
Meanwhile, Huddersfield centre Toby King - currently on loan from Warrington - will play for Wigan in 2023. He joins them from Wolves on a season-long loan and it’ll be the England Knights international’s third club in just five months. Elsewhere, Leeds hooker Brad Dwyer will link up with Hull next term while Danny Houghton and Joe Lovodua have both signed 12 month extensions with the East Yorkshire club.
