'Good to be recognised': Leeds Rhinos' Morgan Gannon talks England call-up, injury blow and reserves return
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The 19-year-old second-rower played in Rhinos’ first two competitive games this season, but has not featured in Betfred Super League being concussed during February’s home loss to Hull FC.
That was his second concussion in three competitive matches after he failed a head injury assessment during Rhinos’ play-off win at Catalans Dragons last September.
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Hide AdBecause of his age and the previous short gap between incidents, Gannon was given extended time off the field, but made his comeback with Rhinos’ reserves when they beat Hull at Headingley last Friday, the day after he was named in England’s extended squad for the Test against France on April 29.
Gannon played for the second-string England Knights two years ago, but admitted his call up to England coach Shaun Wane’s 40-man squad was “a bit of a shock”.
He said: “I missed his call to start with and when I saw it was Shaun Wane I thought it was someone having a laugh.
“I have barely played this year so it was a real surprise, I wasn’t expecting it, but I am really excited to be in the squad and really proud of it.”
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Hide AdA 20-man group to face France will be confirmed next week, but Gannon’s inclusion on the long-list suggests Wane has him in mind for the next World Cup, in just two years’ time.
He revealed: “I’ve sort of had the 2025 World Cup in my mind. I’ve pin-pointed that as an opportunity I have got to take advantage of.
“I wasn’t expecting it to come this early but, it is good to be recognised and to know they are thinking of you.”
Halifax-born Gannon has made rapid progress, having debuted for Rhinos in a BBC-televised Challenge Cup tie at St Helens just two years and three days before his England call up was announced.
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Hide AdHe already has 40 first team games under his belt and the two recent concussions have been his first major setback.
Explaining his long spell on the sidelines, Gannon insisted he has made the most of his time out of the team.
“I saw a neurologist and had an MRI scan,” he said. “He advised me, because of the closeness to the previous one, to have some time off.
“I had four weeks without any contact, which I used to focus on the gym. My upper body was pretty fresh, with no contact and wrestle, so I managed to put some size on in that time and got stronger.”
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