Brothers in arms

THREE OF A KIND... Brothers Callum (left), Sean and Connor Casey.

RUGBY:

SUPER League giants Leeds Rhinos are seeing triple after snapping up THREE of Leo Casey’s sons.

The former Oldham RL, Featherstone and Swinton forward (44) is looking proudly on as Callum, Sean and Connor Casey train in West Yorkshire as they start to forge their own careers in the game.

The oldest of the trio Callum (20) joined Leeds 18 months ago and recently signed a one-year professional contract.

Callum will be out to impress new head coach Brian McDermott — who replaces the outgoing Brian McClennan — in pre-season training in order to stake a claim for a place in the side when the season begins at either half-back or loose forward.

Half-back Sean (17) is currently on a two-year reserve-team contract at Headingley and has impressed sufficiently to be asked to join in with first-team pre-season training.

Back rower Connor (14) has just embarked on his under-15s Rhinos scholarship programme, where he is working under the guidance of veteran Rhinos centre Keith Senior.

And with Patrick Casey emerging into the game with Oldham St Anne’s under-13s, the famous Burgess clan of brothers may soon be getting a run for their money in the professional game.

“I am very proud of all of them,” said dad Leo (above, inset), who up until the middle of last year was assisting John Hough in coaching the Roughyeds’ reserves side.

The Caseys aren’t the only players from the area to be turning out in Leeds colours.

Like Callum, Oldham St Anne’s youth Ryan Bradbury has signed a one-year professional deal at the club; Aaron Brown, a stand-off brought in from Waterhead, will play in the under-20s next year; and Jack Cooke, a Waterhead winger, was in last term’s under-16s side.

“It shows that Oldham is a town rife with talent,” said Barrie McDermott, the former Oldham Bears and Great Britain prop forward, who is now Head of Youth Development at the Rhinos.




McDermott’s player guide






Barrie on Callum:



“He is a wholehearted player who was on trial at Salford, to leave and take a chance with Leeds was a wrench for him as he is a very loyal bloke.”




Barrie on Sean:



“He is a scrum-half or hooker and the exciting thing is, in the academy we have 40 or 50 players doing conditioning work — yet he and Callum are always at the front and end up battling to outdo each other.”




Barrie on Connor:



“A little bit taller, he is big and strong and a decent runner who also has, potentially, a great future in the game.”