Image source, SWPixImage caption, Bill Leyland has only made 13 Super League appearances in his career
ByJay FreemanBBC Sport, North West- Published1 hour ago
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Imagine being sent out on a one-week emergency loan - and the only game you stand a chance of playing in is one of the biggest of the season, against your new club's bitter rivals.
Then imagine scoring your first Super League try, on debut, to put your side in front with three minutes left.
Then you score another try moments later, with a driving run from the halfway line, to seal the win.
And there is a reasonable chance you will never play for that club again.
That is the reality for Bill Leyland, whose sensational late double earned St Helens a sensational comeback win over Wigan Warriors in a Good Friday derby for the ages.
Leyland only joined injury-hit Saints from Hull KR earlier this week and almost did not pull on the Red Vee at all, finally taking to the field when Daryl Clark was subbed off following a head knock.
But in just over 20 minutes, Leyland made his mark, as Saints overturned a 14-point deficit to beat the Cherry and Whites by 10 points after scoring four tries in the final 10 minutes.
"It's a pretty special debut in one of the biggest games in rugby league. To get two tries and man of the match is a pretty special feeling," the 23-year-old told BBC Radio 5 Live.
"I'm glad to go out and make an impact and bring so much joy to the fans."
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Leyland joined Saints alongside KR team-mate Jordan Dezaria with Saints missing Mark Percival, Matty Lees, Jack Welsby, Jonny Lomax, Jacob Host, Nene Macdonald, Jake Burns and Alex Walmsley through injury.
Any hopes that Saints might be able to keep hold of Leyland's services for longer than a week look unlikely.
Both St Helens and Hull KR are in action in the Challenge Cup next week, with the Robins unlikely to allow Leyland to end up cup-tied as they continue the defence of their title.
That means Leyland's St Helens career could be incredibly short - and unforgettable.
"I was just wondering whether I was going to get on the pitch because Daz [Clark] was killing it," he said.
"As a hooker, you know you might get limited minutes so when you do go on you just try to make the most of it."
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If Leyland's St Helens career is just this game, he certainly endeared himself to the fans at both his current and parent clubs.
In celebration after one of his tries, he put his finger to his lips to the Wigan fans behind the sticks, something for which he said in a post-match interview was in tribute to KR's rivalry with the Warriors as the two sides tussled for supremacy last season.
"That's my first time playing against Wigan. I played in the Hull derby but that was when we were nearly champions. Here, there's been some injuries to both sides and it was just a magical sort of thing," he said.
"It's a bit of a blur. As a nine you just have your head down that close to the line and hope for the best. That's my first try in Super League as well so all the emotions were coming through.
"We still had three minutes on the clock. I was so hyped up and then I thought 'oh god, we've got three more minutes to defend'.
"You never know what to expect. They bat the ball back and I go over for the second. It was just a special moment."
