Proud Tyke Brady looking to lead club’s new glory bid
WHILE all players wear their club shirts with pride, there are few as proud as Leeds Tykes‘ second-row Jake Brady.
Brady, 36, has made 173 appearances for the club since 2019 and he now holds the role of general manager at the club.
He told The Rugby Paper: “When I was a kid, Leeds was the Premiership team in Yorkshire. I remember going to watch them at Headingley and standing in the terraces on a Saturday. Then I’d turn out for my club in the U11s the next day and pretend I was those players.
“The badge and the Leeds colours mean a lot to me. I’ve always associated the shirt with pride. I remember the first time I pulled the jersey on, all my memories of watching them play as a youngster came flooding back, and that feeling has never really faded for me.
“In my role as GM, I sometimes get to speak to some of the former Leeds players. Hearing their stories about playing and training, running around the hills of Roundhay Park as we do now, there’s so much tradition that’s lived on through the club. I know what’s gone before and I feel really, really lucky to get to pull on this shirt.”
On the pitch, the team has enjoyed an undefeated first six weeks of their season.
“We’ve got a strong team and a strong squad, the core of which have been together for a few years now,” said Brady.
“We’ve developed and grown together. This team is not yet at its peak and we’re nowhere near the finished article. There’s a lot of lads who are in the prime of their career and we’re not satisfied yet. Every week, we want to improve and win the next game.”
While promotion isn’t their first thought, after finishing second to Rotherham Titans last year it’s certainly in the back of their minds.
Brady added: “When you’re in the clubhouse or away from the pitch, it does get talked about. But when you’re in the thick of training and you’re being coached to improve, promotion isn’t on our minds at all.
“It’s the next job, the next game. When you think too much, that’s when you’ll mess up, so we’re striving to be the best version of ourselves and improve our performances. If we do that every week then when it gets towards the end of the season, we’ll be talking about it then.”
National Two North is filled with a strong Yorkshire contingent and plenty of local rivalries.
But none will be contested by Brady as keenly as when his team faces Harrogate.
He continued: “I spent eight years at Harrogate and now, my little brother Sam is their captain, and he plays in the second row too.
“It’ll be the first time I’ve played against him and I’m looking forward to it. We’ll both be fighting for bragging rights and an extra roast potato on Sunday too.”
