Dream Team star McDonnell has his sights set on silverware with Rhinos

Second-rower James McDonnell has come a long way in three years, from Championship bench player for Leigh to the Super League Dream Team with Leeds Rhinos.

- by Peter Smith

Now established among the European game's best players in his position, McDonnell's aim is to start winning trophies for Leeds, beginning with a crack at this year's playoffs. A graduate of Wigan Warriors' youth system, he spent much of 2022 on loan to Leigh in the Betfred Championship, making all but two of his 17 appearances for them as a substitute, before a preseason move to Rhinos.

Revealing the mentality behind his rapid rise, he said: "Whatever opportunity I get, it's just to take it with both hands and make the best of it. I went to Leigh on loan in the Championship as a bench prop, but those were the circumstances at the time and I just wanted to take the game time wherever I could get it.