Adrian Morley has been rolling back the years with his former Leeds team-mates as the Rhinos prepare to celebrate Super League’s 30th birthday with a repeat of their original fixture against Warrington at AMT Headingley on Sunday afternoon (530pm).
The former England and Great Britain star combined his role as Player Ambassador and Well-Being Manager for Rugby League Cares with the chance to catch up with some old Rhinos pals at an informal get-together in Leeds earlier this week.
And Sunday’s mouthwatering showdown against the Wolves was one of the main topics of conversation – especially as it brings back so many memories of the start of the Super League era in 1996.
“I played in that game against Warrington, very early in my playing days,” recalled Moz, who is now 48, and was a fresh-faced 18-year-old when Super League kicked off having made his senior debut the previous April.
“It was exciting times, the start of a new era for the sport, and it’s been great this week to listen to so many people thinking back to that 1996 season.
“I remember Iestyn Harris had a fantastic game against us for Warrington – and I was reminded this week that big Nick Fozzard got over for a try.
“It’s great that Leeds have got so many of us back at Headingley for the game on Sunday. Nick’s coming over, and apparently Marcus Vassilakopoulos is flying in from America.
“The camaraderie you build up with your team-mates is special. Colin Maskill has done a fantastic job building up the Past Players’ Associations across the game – I got invited to a meet-up for the Wakefield Past Players even though I didn’t play for them, they get together quite often to do a bit of training in the gym or just to have a cup of coffee.
“It was great for me to some of the old Leeds boys at Headingley the other day – Barrie McDermott, Franny Cummins, Richie Mathers and a few others, even Jamie Jones-Buchanan who’s the CEO there now.
"As a club, Leeds have always been great at keeping players connected with the club and the community, as well as our old team-mates.
"In my role at Rugby League Cares, working with Colin Maskill and many others, I've seen how things like this can make a big difference to the Well-Being and Brain Health of former players. It's great to stay connected, and it always gives you a buzz going back to a ground like Leeds and having a craic with the fans in the South Stand.
“It’s hard to believe it’s been 30 years since that first game against Warrington. I know Rugby League Commercial have been working with Leeds and Sky Sports to make it a real celebration of three decades of the Super League.”
In a busy week for Morley, he also linked up with another former Rhinos star, Danny McGuire, to rename one of the Northern Trains fleet Super League 30, as part of Northern's long-term partnership with Rugby League – pictured above.
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