Sam Walters discusses Leeds Rhinos future as he opens up on position preference amid prop transitionSam Walters is remaining open-minded about his long-term future at Leeds Rhinos but admits he would be “inclined to stay” and be a part of the club’s rebuild under Rohan Smith. The towering forward, who stands 6ft 7in, is targeting becoming a regular member of the Rhinos’ side in the remainder of the campaign.
His start to the year was wrecked by a shoulder injury which sidelined him for several months but he recently returned to full fitness and has played in two of Smith’s four games in charge so far. Walters is contract to the Rhinos until the end of next season and is keeping his options beyond then.
“I’d have to sit down with my agent and see what he’s thinking and what I’m thinking at the time – and obviously what Rohan thinks,” the 21-year-old former Widnes Vikings prospect told Rugby League Live. “But I do like playing under Rohan and I think he’s going to be good for my career. You also have all the bonuses of playing at Leeds – the best atmosphere, the best stadium and I think we can build something special here over the next couple of seasons.
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“I live in Kirkstall and Leeds is a booming city which I absolutely love, so I would be inclined to stay at the Rhinos. I’d like to have more game-time and maybe a full pre-season under Rohan, then try and play as many games as I can and then sign something at the end of next year.”
Walters can play in the middle or in the back row but prefers the latter. He added: “At the moment, I’m coming off the bench and playing in the middle, which I don’t mind doing. But in the long run, I want to be pushing for that back-row spot.
"Obviously at the moment, still being quite young, it’s good for me to get as much experience and be out there as part of the team. Rohan has been really good with me in training and is constantly tipping me up on stuff, whether it’s good or bad, and I think I’ve lacked that over the last couple of years. I think some of us young boys are going to come on leaps and bounds in the next couple of seasons.
“I don’t mind playing left or right second-row, but at the moment I’m still developing so I don’t really know my best position yet. I do love playing on the left-hand side, though, and it’s just about getting in one of those positions and getting some combinations going with the half-backs and centre. But it's good to be versatile.”
