Howard promoted to 12 for 2024 season

Rising star Cassie Howard has been promoted to the Rhinos first team squad for the 2024 season after impressing in her debut season as a training partner.

Howard, 20, signed for the Rhinos in 2022 from London Pulse Pathway, fresh from winning the NPL U21 Championship.  She made her debut in the second game of the season against Saracens and played a further three times, alongside representing the University of Leeds and Leeds Athletic.  A versatile player, she featured at both centre and wing attack in 2022.

Speaking about the promotion to the Super League 12, Howard said: “I’m really happy at the opportunity to step up and to be included in the 12 this season.  I enjoyed my first year at the Rhinos and I am looking forward to contributing to the team and am excited for next season and to work with a talented group of athletes.

“Being in the Super League environment last season really helped my personal development.  It was good to get some game time and the step up improved by tactical awareness and game play.  The strength and conditioning coaches helped me to step up to another level and working with Liana was great and she was able to share her knowledge and understanding of the game, which was really beneficial for me as a young player and helped my netball vision and ability to read a game.

“I really enjoyed playing with Caroline, Amy and Michelle last season so I am pleased they are back and we can build on some of the partnerships we had last year. It is exciting that we have Geva Mentor coming in too.  I watched her in the World Cup and was excited that I would get to work with her next season.  Her strength and leadership will be big assets for us and we try to build on last season.”

Leeds Rhinos Director of Netball, Liana Leota said: “Cassie was a training partner last season so I am delighted to bring her into our 12.  She really pushed our midcourters last year and now I am excited to see her grow and develop.  She is tenacious and fearless and what I like is that she can attack and defend quite consistently. It’s good that we are able to reward these athletes and give them opportunities as they deserve it.  Hopefully, we will see a lot of Cassie on the court at her best and I know what she can deliver.”