Burleigh Bears winger Troy Leo leads Intrust Super Cup with 16 tries in 14 games this season

Troy Leo has set the Intrust Super Cup alight with yet another reminder of his freakish try-scoring abilities but that’s not where he feels his true improvement has come.

TROY Leo has set the Intrust Super Cup alight with yet another reminder of his freakish try-scoring abilities but that’s not where he feels his true improvement has come.

The 23-year-old winger has come along in leaps and bounds since signing with Burleigh ahead of the 2017 season.

Entering the Bears’ Round 15 away match against Ipswich on Saturday night, Leo leads the competition’s try-scoring tally with 16 – five clear of any other player. It takes his overall ISC record to 40 four-pointers in 44 appearances.

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But the Kiwi flyer thanks a number of people including his partner Astrid and coach Jimmy Lenihan for making him better rounded.

Burleigh winger Troy Leo. Picture: Brendan Radke

“(Lenihan) has definitely directed my focus on the smaller, finer details of my job in the team and not necessarily the big things like scoring tries, which is what most people tend to focus on,” Leo said.

“That’s probably what has driven me to where I’m at now.

“I remember when I first came over, I was doing my own thing and sort of thinking that getting over the white line was me doing my job.

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“But in reality he opened my eyes up to the fact that as a winger I should be getting x amount of carries per game, when they call for an exit set for the backs I have got to get in there and do my job, as well as keeping a low error count if any at all.”

Troy Leo at Southport training in 2016. Picture: Mike Batterham

Leo worked with the Titans for six weeks during the pre-season but admits chasing an NRL contract is no longer at the top of his priorities.

“It’s always an option if it ever comes around. It’s not something that I’m immediately looking to push forward with,” he said.

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“Since I had my baby in November last year, that has definitely been the most important part of my life and Burleigh is a really family orientated club.

“I’m really comfortable and I’m really happy with where I’m at now.”

Tweed face Townsville at Jack Manski Oval in a Saturday 4pm kick-off.

LEO’S COAST TRIES

2016 Rugby League Gold Coast (Southport): 26 tries in 15 games

2017 Rugby League Gold Coast (Burleigh): 11 tries in eight games

2017 Intrust Super Cup (Burleigh): 10 tries in 11 games

2018 ISC (Burleigh): 15 tries in 19 games

2019 ISC (Burleigh): 16 tries in 14 games