Bill Leyland: St Helens loanee on his match-winning impact against Wigan

Imagine you’re dispatched to a rival team for one week on an emergency loan and the one game you stand a chance of playing in is one of the biggest of the season, against your new club’s biggest rivals.

Then imagine scoring your first-ever Super League try to earn victory for your side on your debut.

And not just that, but you score another try just moments later, with a driving run from halfway in the build-up.

But the caveat is, 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 bitter rivals Wigan Warriors in a Good Friday derby for the ages.

Leyland only joined Saints earlier this week and almost did not pull on the Red Vee at all as he finally took 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 a whopping 10 points after they scored four tries in eight of 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.

“As a running nine I just try to prioritise the running so I’m glad to go out and make an impact and bring so much joy to the fans.”