Kallum Watkins

Kallum Paul Watkins (born 12 March 1991) is an English professional rugby league footballer who plays as a centre or second-row forward for the Salford Red Devils in the Betfred Super League and England at international level.

Kallum Watkins
Personal information
Full nameKallum Paul Watkins[1]
Born (1991-03-12) 12 March 1991
Manchester, Greater Manchester, England
Height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[2]
Weight15 st 10 lb (100 kg)[2]
Playing information
PositionCentre, Second-row
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2007–19 Leeds Rhinos 259 132 101 0 730
2019–20 Gold Coast Titans 8 0 0 0 0
2020– Salford Red Devils 56 20 0 0 80
Total 323 152 101 0 810
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2012–22 England 29 15 0 0 60
Source: [3][4][5][6]
As of 5 November 2022

He previously played for the Leeds Rhinos in the Super League and the Gold Coast Titans in the NRL. Watkins was contracted to the Toronto Wolfpack in the Super League, but did not play for them.

Early life

Watkins was born in Manchester, England to a Jamaican mother and a British father. Watkins began his rugby league career at his local club Langworthy Reds (Salford) before moving on to Salford Junior Academy. In 2007, after impressing in a trial at Leeds he signed a junior contract with the club.[7]

Watkins has earned representative honours for the England Under 17s team against the AIS.

Club career

Leeds

Kallum joined Leeds in 2007, having impressed during a trial period. In that first season with the Junior Academy he scored 13 tries in 20 appearances as they headed for Grand Final glory, where he scored the opening try in Leeds 26–16 win over St. Helens, and earned himself a place in the England U17 squad to play the AIS. His England U17s début was as a substitute in the first test against the Australian Institute of Sport at Warrington's Halliwell Jones Stadium. England lost 28–26, but Kallum helped the young Lions restore pride a week later with a 38–22 win at Wakefield Trinity Wildcats' Belle Vue.[7]

He began 2008 in spectacular form for the Academy, scoring 11 tries in the opening five games of the season, including a hattrick against Hull Kingston Rovers in the first game of the season & four tries a week later against Castleford. His form saw him promoted to the Leeds first Grade squad in April 2008 at just sixteen years of age. He made his début against the then Celtic Crusaders in the Challenge Cup, scoring a try. He went on to make 4 further appearances in 2008 scoring 2 further tries, most notably against Bradford Bulls at the Millennium Magic weekend.[7]

Watkins warming for the Leeds Rhinos in Florida in 2009

In 2009, Watkins became a more regular name on the Leeds team sheet. He made 13 appearances in all scoring 4 tries, including a spectacular length of the field interception try late on to beat Huddersfield at Headingley 20–12.[8]

2010 started with so much promise for the 18-year-old Watkins, starting in the Leeds first 6 games which included an appearance on the wing in the World Club Challenge defeat by the Melbourne Storm. Watkins started at fullback, wing, and centre in the 6 game stretch due to injuries to teammates, however, on 14 March he injured his knee in the 26–20 defeat by Huddersfield, and had to have a knee reconstruction. Watkins did not play again that season.[9]

At the start of the 2011 season he was mainly used on the wing scoring 9 tries in 8 games including 4 against Wakefield Trinity. On 29 April 2011, while playing against Castleford in Leeds' 48–6 win, Watkins injured the ligaments in his wrist which saw him miss the next 12 weeks.[10]

Later that year he played at centre for Leeds in the 2011 Challenge Cup Final defeat by the Wigan Warriors at Wembley Stadium.[11][12]

Watkins was given a boost after 2 injury-ravaged seasons when he was handed the Number 3 Jersey by the Leeds Head Coach Brian McDermott. This signalled the intent that the coach sees him as the long term right centre at Leeds. Kallum also signed a new 5-year contract on 26 January, keeping him at Leeds until 2017 at the earliest[13]

He played in the 2012 Challenge Cup Final defeat by the Warrington Wolves at Wembley Stadium.[14][15][16][17]

He played in the 2012 Super League Grand Final victory over the Warrington Wolves at Old Trafford.[18][15]

Watkins playing for the Leeds Rhinos against the Catalans Dragons in 2013

He played in the 2014 Challenge Cup Final victory over the Castleford Tigers at Wembley Stadium.[19]

He played in the 2015 Challenge Cup Final victory over Hull Kingston Rovers at Wembley Stadium.[20][21][22]

He played in the 2015 Super League Grand Final victory over the Wigan Warriors at Old Trafford.[23]

Watkins playing for the Leeds Rhinos in 2016

Watkins played in Leeds' 24–6 2017 Super League Grand Final victory over Castleford at Old Trafford. It was his sixth premiership victory as a player with Leeds.[24][25][26][27]

In January 2018, Watkins was named by Leeds as their captain for the 2018 season.[28]

Gold Coast

In 2019, Watkins signed a contract to join NRL side the Gold Coast Titans. Watkins made his debut for the Gold Coast against Brisbane in Round 19 of the 2019 NRL season which ended in a 34–12 loss at Cbus Super Stadium. The following week, Watkins played for the Gold Coast against the Sydney Roosters as the club suffered its second-worst defeat since entering the competition losing 58–6 at the Sydney Cricket Ground.[29][30]

Watkins made a total of 6 appearances in his first season in the NRL as the Gold Coast finished last on the table and claimed the wooden spoon.[31]

In April 2020, it was announced that Watkins had quit the NRL to fly home back to England to be with his sick father.[32]

Toronto

On 22 May 2020, it was announced that Watkins had signed a three-year deal with the Toronto Wolfpack in the Super League.[33]

Salford

On 17 October 2020, Watkins played in the 2020 Challenge Cup Final defeat for Salford against Leeds at Wembley Stadium.[34]

In round 21 of the 2022 Betfred Super League season, Watkins scored two tries for Salford in a 44-12 upset victory over St Helens RFC.[35] In round 24 of the 2022 season, Watkins scored two tries for Salford in an upset victory over Catalans at the Stade Gilbert Brutus.[36] In the 2023 Super League season, Sio played 23 matches for Salford and as the club finished 7th on the table and missed the playoffs.[37]

International career

Watkins made his International début for England in the 2012 Autumn International Series. He scored a try on début against Wales. He went on to score a total try tally of 4 tries in England's 3 tournament matches.

In October and November, Watkins played for England in their 2013 Rugby League World Cup campaign. He played in all 5 of England's matches, scoring two tries.

In October, England travelled down under to play in the Four Nations. Kallum scored two tries in England's 3 tournament matches.

In October Watkins was named in England's 24-man squad for their test-series against New Zealand.[38] Before the series began England took on France in a test match at Leigh. Kallum scored his 9th career try in England's rout of their opponents.[39]

In October, Watkins was named in England's 24-man squad for the 2016 Four Nations. Before the tournament began, Kallum played in England's test match against France.

Watkins warming up for England in 2016

In October 2017 he was selected in the England squad for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.[40]

Watkins was selected by England for the 2021 Rugby League World Cup. He played in all five of England's matches at the tournament including the semi-final loss to Samoa where he made a number of defensive errors which lead to Samoan tries. Watkins also lost the ball over the line during the first half which cost England a try scoring opportunity.[41]

In October 2022 Watkins was named in the England squad for the 2021 Rugby League World Cup.[42]

Honours

Leeds
Runners up (1): 2013, 2017

Salford
Runners up (1): 2020

References
  1. "Player Profile". Leeds Rhinos. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  2. "Kallum Watkins Leeds Rhinos". Superleague.co.uk. Rugby Football League. 2015. Archived from the original on 11 September 2013. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
  3. "Profile at loverugbyleague.com". loverugbyleague.com. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  4. "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  5. "England Statistics at englandrl.co.uk". englandrl.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  6. "Player Summary: Kallum Watkins". Rugby League Records. Rugby League Record Keepers Club. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  7. "Players & Coaches: 1st Team: Kallum Watkins". Leeds Rhinos. Archived from the original on 9 August 2011. Retrieved 1 February 2012.
  8. Archived 8 April 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  10. "Kallum Watkins out for 12 weeks - Leeds Rhinos Rugby League News". Superleaguefans.com. 30 April 2011. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
  11. Scott, Ged (27 August 2011). "Leeds 18-28 Wigan". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  12. Wilson, Andy (27 August 2011). "Leeds Rhinos 18-28 Wigan Warriors – Challenge Cup final match report". The Guardian. London.
  13. "New five-year deal for Watkins". Loverugbyleague.com. 26 January 2012. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
  14. "Warrington's battered Brett Hodgson recovers to see off Leeds in final". The Guardian UK. 25 August 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  15. "Leeds' Kevin Sinfield stars in Grand Final triumph against Warrington". The Guardian. 6 October 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  16. "Leeds Rhinos 18–35 Warrington Wolves". BBC Sport. 25 August 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  17. "Warrington Wolves Are Challenge Cup Winners 2012!". Warrington Wolves Official Site. 25 August 2012. Archived from the original on 17 December 2013. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  18. "Grand Final: Warrington 18-26 Leeds". BBC Sport. 6 October 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  19. "Leeds lift Challenge Cup after Ryan Hall's double stuns Castleford". The Guardian. 23 August 2014. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  20. "Leeds emphatically shut out Hull KR to lift Challenge Cup". The Guardian. 29 August 2015. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
  21. "Scoreboard". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 2982. 31 August 2015. p. 31.
  22. "Challenge Cup final: Hull KR 0-50 Leeds Rhinos". BBC Sport. 29 August 2015. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
  23. "Leeds pip Wigan to seal treble after brilliant, breathless Grand Final". The Guardian. 10 October 2015. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  24. Ostlere, Lawrence (7 October 2017). "Castleford 6-24 Leeds: Grand Final 2017 – as it happened". The Guardian.
  25. "Castleford 6-24 Leeds: Grand Final 2017 – as it happened". The Guardian. 7 October 2017. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  26. "Grand Final 2017: Castleford 6-24 Leeds Rhinos". BBC Sport. 7 October 2017. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
  27. "Danny McGuire guides Leeds to Grand Final success over Castleford". The Guardian. 7 October 2017. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
  28. "Burrow ready for coaching baptism". Leeds Rhinos. 17 January 2018. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  29. "Horror show for Holbrook as Roosters run riot". NRL. 4 August 2019.
  30. "Watkins on what's missing at the Titans". NRL. 9 August 2019.
  31. "Melbourne Storm defeat Gold Coast Titans after scare". News.com.au.
  32. "Kallum Watkins quits NRL side Gold Coast Titans after father contracts coronavirus". BBC Sport.
  33. "Wolfpack confirm Watkins signing". www.superleague.co.uk. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  34. "Leeds beat Salford 17-16 after Luke Gale lands late winning drop-goal". BBC Sport.
  35. "Super League: Salford Red Devils stun St Helens as they storm to victory with eight-try blitz". www.skysports.com.
  36. "Salford ready to be a 'serious threat' in the play-offs says Paul Rowley". www.loverugbyleague.com. 22 August 2022.
  37. "Salford Red Devils' 2023 season in review". www.salfordnow.co.uk.
  38. "MCNAMARA NAMES 24-MAN SQUAD FOR 2015 INTERNATIONAL SERIES". englandrl.co.uk. 11 October 2015. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
  39. "England demolish France 84-4 in record win". Skysports.com. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
  40. "England rugby league World Cup squad revealed - and James Roby is back in the fold". The Mirror. 9 October 2017. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  41. Unwin, Will (12 November 2022). "England 26-27 Samoa: Rugby League World Cup semi-final – as it happened". The Guardian.
  42. Full list of every squad at the Rugby League World Cup 2021
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