Ryan Hall
While his peers were being nurtured in highly-professional Super League Academies, Ryan Hall's first delving into senior rugby was amid the rugged bearpit of Sharlston Rovers' tiny Weeland Road ground.

Tiny in stature but not reputation, the feared amateur club in the erstwhile mining village outside Featherstone was no place for a skinny 17-year-old to be blooded.

As it turned out, Hall shone for his team Oulton Raiders.

Less than six months later, having never even considered life as a professional rugby league player and with most his age having been scouted years earlier, he had signed for Leeds Rhinos. Less than four years on, the now strapping winger is preparing for his second Grand Final with his hometown club as Super League's top try-scorer and a full England international.

It is a story which gives hope to any youngster who believes their chance has gone.

"It goes against the grain really," said Hall, as he looked back on his unusual pathway into the game.

"A lot of people have that attitude 'It's not happened to me, I'm going to have to go find something else to do'

"But never give up. That's the attitude you need to take. I think it's shown what I've done so far in my life."

Hall admits he initially had no urge to progress into the professional ranks and played with local side Oulton, on the east side of Leeds, just for fun.

A bright pupil, he had thought about being a pilot, or maybe an accountant, and was studying for A Levels in preparation for a maths degree at Leeds University.

But after his impressive debut at Sharlston, he became a regular for National Conference League side Oulton and his try-scoring prowess and genuine potential could not be overlooked.

Hometown Leeds, Bradford Bulls and Hull FC were just some of the clubs who heard about the talented teenager who had gone under the radar but was now running riot against the amateur game's finest – Siddal, Leigh Miners Rangers and Wigan St Patricks just some of the teams who got stung by the powerful wideman.