Leeds Rhinos' debut star reveals position switch after return from year-long injury nightmare
Comeback kid Fergus McCormack has spoken about his long injury nightmare and revealed the role he wants to play for Leeds Rhinos.
McCormack, known as Fergie, made a remarkable comeback as a substitute in Rhinos’ Betfred Challenge Cup third round win at Widnes Vikings last weekend, just two weeks after getting back to training following the latest in a series of fitness setbacks. He wasn’t available for any of Rhinos’ pre-season matches and his debut was the first rugby he played at any level since a reserves game 10 months ago.
Now 19, McCormack joined Rhinos’ scholarship in 2021 and made rapid progress, becoming academy player of the season two years later. He was a regular for the under-18s and second-string in 2024, but a hamstring injury towards the end of that season required surgery and the issue recurred eight weeks into his rehab.
After 24 weeks he managed to get back for a reserves fixture against Bradford Bulls last April, but recalled: “I played half a game and the next day back at training, I did it again. That required an operation. Since then I’ve been fit with that hamstring, but recently in pre-season I did the t-junction in my leg. I was out for seven weeks, but got back into it two weeks ago. I’ve had a tough time with it, I struggled a lot with the injuries, but I’d always think of this [his debut] being the end goal. I always hoped that day would come, but I never imagined my first game back would be with the first team. Now I just want to stay injury-free and try and build my game up.”
McCormack joined Leeds as a half-back, but played as the last line of defence against Widnes, coping with some tricky kicks and making good metres upfield. He revealed: “I’m looking to build my game around the full-back position. I have played half most recently, but I think full-back suits my speed and agility.”
Reflecting on his senior debut, McCormack added: “I really enjoyed it. It was tough, I found it hard, but I love a good challenge and it was a really good experience and a pleasure to be out on the field with those players. I’ve always dreamed about it.”
Making the occasion extra-special, McCormack’s older brother Ned, who turned 22 the day after the match, was alongside him in the team against Widnes. Ned McCormack also missed most of last year because of a hamstring injury, but returned to make one Super League appearance late in the campaign.
Saturday was his fourth game in the senior side and Fergus said: “It was really good to be out there with him. I hadn’t played with him in about a year and a half, so it was crazy - a really good experience.”
The debutant passed to Riley Lumb in the build up to Rhinos’ clinching score, but admitted he couldn’t take credit for the winger’s spectacular long-range touchdown. “He was screaming at me to get rid of the ball,” McCormack said. “Not to him, but I gave it to him anyway. He was saying ‘get rid of it, get rid of it’, so I passed him the ball and got an assist, but I don’t think I can call it that.”