Jake Connor is a player who has had a career full of ‘what if’ if ‘, defending as one of the big stars for the future, but then feeling the weight of pressure on him.
After his time in Hull FC from 2017-2022 where he made 142 appearances, Connor returned to Giants Huddersfield in 2023.
However, the club in which he initially began his career at the Super League, seemed to not get the best, at one time, one of the brightest sports prospects, making the 30-year-old join Leeds Rhinos for season 2025.
While the ability, gift and recognition of the game are there for Connor, Rhino coach Brad Arthur has spent his time in pre-season ensuring that Connor fully understands what his friends need and how he can perform more His good.
Indeed, those conversations began with a very harsh, honestly arthur, telling Connor that at that current moment, he was not in good shape, where he would play for his side, to come the week of a of super league.
“I love to win and I don’t love the pain of loss – but the only thing I want for training is to get the opportunity to improve players and working with those guys who are a bit of a project,” Arthur Sky Sports told ‘The Bench Podcast.
“I try to take pride in this and this is probably where my strength has been as a coach.
“There is not much of my feet that I have to worry or teach him. He understands the game, but it’s just the one understanding what his teammates will value from him more in his game.
“It is about his fields of efforts, his physique, how he adapts to them plays with his team and not himself. I think here we will see the benefit this year.
“He bought in everything and I have had some difficult conversations real. The first conversation was” I don’t think you are quite capable and I don’t think you will be in team week one “.
“He said ‘without worries, thanks for honesty. I will make sure I do something about it.” I loved it.
“Then at Christmas time I said ‘I think you’re upgraded but I still don’t think you’re there yet.” For his loan, he has worked hard and sometimes boys have seen many good things, then they saw some things they were not happy about and they had talks with him.
“But only his ability to accept him for what he is and realize that everyone is just trying to do me better. I hope for his sake he has a good year.”
‘He has underestimated and we want he can reach’
Although Arthur has not trained in the Super League for a long time, he is aware that Connor has had a career full of ifs, Buts and Maybes.
Now, with Rhinos, the goal for the club and the player is for him to continue to be acceptable for improvement so that everyone can get the best from one another.
“I think this is the chance to get the best of yourself,” Arthur added.
“Of course there is a very good player there. That’s all of the reports, but I was told that he has underestimated all the way in his career.
“I think he is also enjoying being in a team where he has no need to do anything and has no weight of the world on his shoulders.
“I think it will help him, he is a great blow and he has been acceptable to everything we are trying to do.
“I’ve told him” Sometimes I need for you to really hear when I speak and don’t need you to have an answer for me. “
“He understands the game so well. Sometimes I need him to hear alone, to leave think about it, then go back with your answer.
“We just continue to pierce it in it and that’s what is the best for the team.”
You can see that Rhinos Leeds get their super League campaign developing on Saturday 15 February Vs Wakefield Trinity, Live in Sky Sports at 3pm. Heavenly Will show again every game of the Super League Live this season – including two games in each round exclusively live, with the four games left each week shown in Sky Sports+
