Teenage scrum-half Caitlin Casey says Leeds Rhinos are determined to do Rob Burrow propud when they face St Helens at Wembley on Saturday.
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00:00Obviously you played last year very early in your career, do you feel a little bit more confident about this season, a little bit more ready for it?
00:12I'm a little bit more settled because we kind of know what to expect but it's still a really big game so there's obviously nerves but we're all getting excited about it and I just can't wait for the weekend.
00:22I think the team's in better shape than it was a year ago.
00:26We've got a lot more depth I think this year, we've got signed well and they fit into the squad well as well so I'm just excited to see how we go and hopefully we get to lift that trophy.
00:36Saints, you've had so many close games against Saints, they're always tight aren't they? Even a couple of weeks ago there was, well it was just goal kicks in it. Do you think this one's going to be similar?
00:51Yeah it'll always be a close game with Saints, we're both Razors game when we play each other but saying that, last time we played we knew what we did wrong and we knew where as a tackle weren't good enough but we've been working on that the last few weeks and we think that if we put that into place we should be alright.
01:07How are you feeling about it personally? You'd just come out of the academy last year and you'd been playing for Alton a few weeks before and now you've got a whole season of first team rugby under your belt, do you feel a little bit more prepared?
01:21A little bit more prepared but it's still a massive occasion so I'm always going to be nervous, I'm nervous before every game no matter if it was Barrow or a Challenge Cup final this year because I feel the same as I did last week and I will do next week but it's just a bit more at stake because it's knockout rugby, it's a trophy and a shield to lift so I'm looking forward to it.
01:44It's great for the women's game isn't it that you're on this big stage, again last year was the first time but it's obviously going to become a regular thing at Wembley and it's such a showcase.
01:54Yeah hopefully it is one that carries on throughout the future but I think it just shows how well the women's game is growing and the growth and support that they are feeling at the minute. There's so many young girls that are seeing us play at Wembley and you have seen a spike in the youth because I do some work with the foundation at Leeds and Halifax as well, there's loads of young girls, loads of talent coming through that in the next few years will be pushing first team and England spots.
02:22Well your example shows that doesn't it because you came through from Oldham and this will be your second appearance at Wembley and you're still what 19?
02:30Yeah only 19, two appearances at Wembley hopefully, defending selection won't be bad, it's not bad better than some people could say but I'm not complacent with it, I know I've got goals for the future still and I just want to keep getting better.
02:44What's the team been like to play in because you say there's more depth this year, some quality players come in like Shona?
02:53Yeah I'm lucky because Shona's in my back row and you can't ask for much more of a back rower, obviously she plays in back row for club or country, she's more of a prop but she's a big character having the team and you know what you get with Shona, just 100% effort, grit and that aggression that maybe someone could say we were lacking last year but I think she's fitted in great and I'm lucky to have her inside me and Beavers outside me I'm pretty safe.
03:19It's not bad is it those two, two of the best in the world?
03:23No I can't really complain with that can I so yeah we're just looking forward to the weekend and seeing how we get on.
03:29It's been a difficult week for the club obviously with what happened with Rob, has that affected the girls at all?
03:37We know it's putting a bit more on the game because of how much the club and Rob meant to Rugby League in general but we'll be playing for him, the badge and just going out there and trying to get a win.
03:50Can't think about it too much and put too much pressure on ourselves but it's there and we do want to do and proud.
03:55Obviously you're a seven, he was a seven, is he someone you looked up to at all?
04:01Yeah.
04:02Presumably when you were coming through you followed his career?
04:04Yeah so I supported Cass when I was younger but Rob Burrow was always someone that I looked up to because he did play the same position as me and he was a really good half back as well.
04:14So no matter if it was Leeds, England, Great Britain he was Rugby League and anyone I don't know that has a bad word about Rob Burrow.
04:24So it's a bit of pressure playing in a seven shirt but it's something that I'm taking in my step and I want to do it justice.
04:31Perfect.