Kallum Watkins never expected to wear a Leeds Rhinos shirt again, but after returning to Headingley amid Salford’s financial troubles, the veteran forward believes the club are building towards something special under Brad Arthur.

COULD 2026 be the year that Kallum Watkins’ career comes full circle? Leeds Rhinos’ current form suggests there is every possibility that this could be the case.

After the opening ten rounds of Super League, the Rhinos were sitting top of the pile, having lost just twice and amassing a far superior points difference compared to St Helens, who had also won eight of their opening matches.

But it is perhaps the manner of Leeds’ wins that is most impressive, with confident and assured performances across the park, leading many of the Headingley faithful to believe a first Super League title since 2017 is genuinely on the cards come October’s Grand Final.

For Watkins, who started his career as a centre but has, over the last few years, developed into an in-form back-rower, much of the positivity around the club now can be put down to coach Brad Arthur.

When the Australian took charge of his first Rhinos game in July 2024, the club were sat seventh in Super League, and finished the year in eighth place. But 12 months later, Arthur led Leeds back into the play-offs, securing a fourth-place finish, with that rapid climb up the table continuing into this season.

And it is that which is giving Watkins real hope that he can add more silverware to the six Super League titles, two League Leaders’ Shields, two Challenge Cups, and a World Club Challenge he won during his first 12-season spell with the club, which started as a 16-year-old in 2008.

“Brad’s great,” Watkins told Rugby League World.

“He keeps things very, very honest, and his level of detail is incredible. He’s got high expectations for everybody to produce the goods at training to make sure we’re ready and prepared for games. Then, when you’re in the game, it’s about playing at your best every single week and being consistent with that.

“We know all the plays and all the calls, so we know what we’re planning to do in games, but it’s also about doing it under fatigue, when you’re in a game situation and you’re tired.

“If you’re able to make the right decision, even though your mind is telling you not to, that makes a big difference, because so often last year it came down to the small details as to whether we won or lost games.

“In pre-season, when we were out on the field, it was important that we were put in scenario-based situations, some when it was structured and some when it wasn’t, so that we could see how we’d react to something like a ball coming free. There are always moments like that in games, so we have to make sure we’ve got our minds on the job and are always concentrating.

“That’s something we want to get right this year because it’s the small details that bring big results or big consequences.

“We want to be on the right side of the results this year, so we’re making sure that we’re doing everything right and doing everything that can make us better.

“It’s about holding each other accountable as well when that doesn’t happen. We’re all human; we will make mistakes, and sometimes we’re not going to be playing well, so then it becomes about how you pick each other back up.

“One thing that can make the group better is everyone going for the same goal, and being connected, which we have.

“So I do think we can do something really special this year, and it is a big goal of mine to try and help this team get back to where they need to be and where they expect to be.

“If I could do that, it would be amazing, and it would feel like a full-circle moment for my career.”

Despite Watkins being born in Salford, his return to Headingley last April, from the Reds, very much felt like a homecoming for the 35-year-old, who first signed terms with the Rhinos as a junior before making his senior debut against Celtic Crusaders on 18th April, 2008.

17 years to the day later, Watkins made a try-scoring second debut for Leeds in a 28-6 Good Friday win over Huddersfield, after the financial difficulties that dogged Salford throughout last season forced a move elsewhere.

Pulling on the blue and amber shirt again was something Watkins admits he never thought would happen, but now that he is back with his first club, he is determined to make the most of every moment here as inevitable retirement looms.

“Coming back to Leeds was just like coming home because there are still a lot of the same people here and I already knew a lot of the boys,” added Watkins, who is contracted until the end of the current season but has already held discussions with the club about roles available to him once he does hang up his playing boots.

“I’ve got a lot of love for Salford as a club. I’m just so glad that they’re now in a better position, and hopefully they can push forward with it.

“But with what was happening last year, looking for other opportunities was kind of forced on everybody, so when Leeds came in and said they wanted me to come back, I was really excited to return and try and create some more memories, because I never thought I’d get the chance to do that again.

“The big thing for me is just to continue improving as a player and as a leader and trying to push the younger lads on through my actions and making sure I’m doing the right things all the time.

“I know I’ve played at the highest level, but there is always something that you can improve on and get better at, and I will keep working on that.

“I’ve changed position over the years, so I have had to adjust my game a little bit, and that has helped me see the game a little bit differently. That put me in a good position coming back into the Leeds side last year when I hadn’t done pre-season with them.

“But I got the benefit of that this year, and being back here is really enjoyable, so I am just trying to take it all in with both hands and make the most of it while I can.”

Watkins’ successful first spell at Leeds came to an end mid-way through the 2019 season. It had already been confirmed that the then Leeds captain was the latest English player to head down under to try his luck in the NRL, having signed a deal with Gold Coast Titans for the following year. But the opportunity to join them much sooner saw the Rhinos agree to an early release, allowing Watkins to move to Australia at the end of July, and make his first of six NRL appearances that year soon after.

By his own admission, the move to the other side of the world didn’t necessarily work out as planned, with the Titans finishing bottom of the NRL the year he arrived. Then, two appearances into the Coronavirus-hit 2020 season, Watkins was granted an early release to allow him to return home due to “serious family health concerns”. He eventually joined Salford after an initial move to Toronto Wolfpack fell through when they withdrew from Super League due to the pandemic.

But despite his limited time in the NRL, Watkins, who has also earned 31 caps for England, knows it was still a positive step in his career and has a very clear message for his current trio of Leeds teammates who will be making a similar move later this year.

Harry Newman, James McDonnell and Mikolaj Oledzki will all trade the Rhinos for NRL new boys Perth Bears in 2027 and beyond.

“They just need to embrace the opportunity,” added Watkins, who believes that Leeds’ loss could ultimately prove to be the British game’s gain.

“The NRL is massive, especially over there – it’s as big as football is over here – and it will be a unique situation for them to go over and be part of a brand-new team in Perth, which is a very beautiful place.

“So for them, it’s about enjoying the experience, embracing their teammates, and just embracing that opportunity to play, because it’s a massive move for them.

“I know that they will succeed because they work really, really hard on their game, so they just need to take their opportunities when they get them.

“As a player, you only get one career, so you’ve got to make the most of it, and if that means going out to Australia to experience a different environment by playing in the NRL, which a lot of players want to do, then they should do it. Getting an opportunity to do that is a privilege, and a lot of people who do experience going out there then come back and play at their very best back here.

“The rugby side of it for me probably wasn’t the best, but then coming back having had the experience of a different environment made me a better player overall. I’m definitely better for those situations, and I might not have been the player I am now if I hadn’t taken that opportunity, so however it went, I’m glad I did it.”

First published in Rugby League World magazine, Issue 521 (June 2026)