James Bentley (rugby league) explained

James Bentley
Fullname:James Thomas Bentley[1]
Birth Date:1997 10, df=yes
Birth Place:Leeds, West Yorkshire, England
Height:5feet
Weight:15st
Club1:Bradford Bulls
Year1start:2016
Year1end:17
Appearances1:28
Tries1:18
Goals1:0
Fieldgoals1:0
Points1:72
Club2:St Helens
Year2start:2018
Year2end:21
Appearances2:49
Tries2:9
Goals2:0
Fieldgoals2:0
Points2:36
Year3start:2018
Appearances3:16
Tries3:3
Goals3:0
Fieldgoals3:0
Points3:12
Year4start:2019
Appearances4:7
Tries4:6
Goals4:0
Fieldgoals4:0
Points4:24
Year5start:2022
Year5end:present
Appearances5:48
Tries5:10
Goals5:0
Fieldgoals5:0
Points5:40
Teama:Ireland
Yearastart:2018
Yearaend:present
Appearancesa:8
Triesa:3
Goalsa:0
Fieldgoalsa:0
Pointsa:12
New:yes
Source:[2] [3] [4]
Updated:31 December 2022

James Bentley (born 19 October 1997) is an Ireland international rugby league footballer who plays as a or for the Leeds Rhinos in the Super League.[5]

He played for the Bradford Bulls in the Championship. Bentley played for St Helens in the Betfred Super League and spent time on loan from Saints at the Sheffield Eagles and the Leigh Centurions in the Betfred Championship.

Background

Bentley was born in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England.

Playing career

Early career

Bentley started his path towards a professional Rugby League career at Featherstone Rovers in the scholarship ranks after coming from nearby, Oulton Raiders. After his first season with the club, no game time and a change of coaching staff, he followed the fellow coaching staff to Bradford Bulls.

Bradford Bulls

Bentley came up through the Bradford Bulls academy and made his initial appearance for the Bradford Bulls in 2016 against the Castleford Tigers in a pre season game and went on to make sporadic appearances throughout 2016. Bentley cemented his place in the Bradford Bulls first team in 2017. Despite the club's 12 point deduction, Bentley impressed scoring 18 tries. After the Bradford Bulls were relegated, Bentley signed for Super League side St. Helens.

St Helens

At the end of the 2017 season Bentley signed a two-year deal with Super League side St. Helens. He joined the Sheffield Eagles on Rugby League Dual registration in 2018 as part of a deal between the two clubs.[6] He played for Sheffield against the Dewsbury Rams.He played in St Helens 8-4 2020 Super League Grand Final victory over Wigan at the Kingston Communications Stadium in Hull. He signed a one-year contract extension with St Helens for the 2021 season.[7] On 4 May 2021, he was ruled out for an indefinite period after suffering a badly broken leg.[8]

Leeds

On 21 June 2021, it was reported that he had signed for Leeds in the Super League[9] In round 1 of the 2022 Super League season, Bentley made his club debut for Leeds against Warrington but was sent off after only 16 minutes on the field.[10] On 23 May 2022, Bentley was suspended for three matches in relation to a dangerous high tackle during Leeds victory over Wakefield Trinity.[11] In round 16 of the 2022 Super League season, Bentley was sent to the sin bin for a professional foul during Leeds 42-12 loss against his former club St Helens.[12] In the 2022 Semi-Final, Bentley scored two tries for Leeds in a shock 20-8 victory over Wigan which sent the club into the Grand Final.[13] On 24 September 2022, Bentley played for Leeds in their 24-12 loss to St Helens RFC in the 2022 Super League Grand Final.[14] Bentley represented Ireland at the 2021 Rugby League World Cup and played in all three group stage matches. On 14 November, the Rugby Football League placed Bentley under investigation after he was alleged to have been involved in a fight with England and Sydney Roosters player Victor Radley at England's team hotel.[15] [16] Bentley played a total of 17 games for Leeds in the 2023 Super League season as the club finished 8th on the table and missed the playoffs.[17]

Statistics

Statistics do not include pre-season friendlies.

Season Appearance Tries Goals F/G Points
1 0 0 0 0
27 18 0 0 72
Total28 18 0 0 72

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/kxDq0sFucUE9mplM6KalkHhqCXY/appointments Companies House
  2. https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/james-bentley/summary.html RLP
  3. https://www.loverugbyleague.com/stats/players/james-bentley/ loverugbyleague
  4. Web site: Bradford Bulls - Rugby League Championship.
  5. Web site: Bentley and Keyes set for Bulls début against Oldham. Telegraph & Argus. 2016-08-19. 2016-09-20.
  6. Web site: Bentley joins Eagles on dual-registration. 31 January 2018. 31 January 2018.
  7. News: Super League Grand Final: Wigan 4-8 St Helens. BBC Sport.
  8. Web site: St Helens confirm brutal James Bentley injury blow as scans confirm the worst. www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk.
  9. Web site: Sky Sports. 21 Jun 2021. 5 Oct 2021. James Bentley: Leeds Rhinos sign St Helens back-rower on two-year deal from start of next season.
  10. Web site: Super League: Leeds Rhinos 20-22 Warrington Wolves - Daryl Powell's Wire edge out 12-man hosts. www.bbc.com. 12 February 2022.
  11. News: James Bentley: Leeds Rhinos back row banned for three games after high tackle. BBC Sport .
  12. News: Super League: St Helens 42-12 Leeds Rhinos. BBC Sport .
  13. News: Leeds stun Wigan to reach Grand Final as remarkable resurgence goes on. The Guardian. 16 September 2022 . Bower . Aaron .
  14. News: St Helens sink Leeds to win record fourth consecutive Grand Final. The Observer. 24 September 2022 . Bower . Aaron .
  15. Web site: Leeds Rhinos ace James Bentley involved in alleged punch-up with England's Victor Radley. www.leeds-live.co.uk.
  16. News: Rugby League: Victor Radley and James Bentley investigated after alleged incident in Manchester. BBC Sport .
  17. Web site: Leeds Rhinos' 2023 season review: picking out the best and worst players, performances, results. www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk.