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‘You got through it…’

‘And I was worse than you,’ Eddy says. ‘Look, I’m going to do my best to make sure you stay on the England squad. Whatever happened, we’re equally to blame. So they can have both of us or neither of us.’

‘Really?’ Jamie says hopefully. ‘I thought I was on my way home.’

‘We think you deserve another chance,’ I tell him, looking at Eddy to smile at him.

‘I’m not going to let you down,’ Jamie says.

‘You need to play for both of us, until I’m back,’ Eddy tells him. ‘Reckon you can handle it?’

‘I’ll do my best,’ he replies.

I feel so much lighter now, for the three of us talking, not only working out how to coexist, but actively making plans together.

I think Eddy’s right. With his help, Jamie could be one of the greats – up there with Eddy himself. Better the history books remember them as friends rather than enemies.

And as for me and Eddy, well, now it’s time to start making some history of our own, and I can’t wait.

28

The Leeds Lions’ press room is a lot like a Vegas casino. Not only does it have no windows or clocks, so you have no idea what time it is, but also because you don’t know what you’re in for, when you step inside.

The room sits deep inside Evergreen Stadium, several corridors away from natural light. There’s a blue and yellow backdrop with a huge lion on it, right behind where the speakers sit, a lighting rig hangs from the ceiling, and there are rows and rows of chairs.

I’m sitting at the back, because I don’t need to be here; I already know what they’re going to say. Still, I want to be here to witness it.

Every chair is occupied. Everyone is ready with their phones and their cameras; now all we need is for Bryan and Mike, the Leeds Lions’ coach, to come out and break the news.

Finally they arrive, walking out without fanfare, ready to tell everyone what we’ve been planning. We’ve been saving it until right before the Christmas break, and the start of the new season in the new year.

‘Thanks for coming,’ Bryan begins, leaning towards the microphones. ‘We know there has been a lot of speculation over the last few weeks about recruitment, contracts and where the club goes after the season we’ve had.’

Camera shutters begin clicking, peppering the silence.

‘We were disappointed not to win the Grand Final, obviously, but we finished the year knowing we have the foundations for something special. Today is about building on that.’

Mike nods beside him, showing that he’s in agreement.

‘We’ve been clear that we want players who can change games,’ Mike says. ‘Players with ambition, personality and the confidence to perform when the pressure is at an all-time high. There aren’t many players who fit that description better than the man we’re announcing today.’

A murmur moves through the room, everyone on the edge of their seats to see who it is.

‘So, without further ado,’ Bryan continues. ‘The Leeds Lions are delighted to confirm that Jamie Royle will join the club on a two-year contract.’

He pulls the cover away from one of the boards we put up earlier, revealing Jamie’s face and the words ‘Welcome to Leeds’.

The room erupts into chatter, gasps, more camera shutters, people shouting out questions.

Jamie walks out. He’s grinning but, I don’t know, it’s like his grin has evolved into something that you’re less likely to want to punch.

He is wearing a navy suit with a Leeds tie, although the club colours still look slightly wrong on him after years of Manchester red and black.

He shakes hands with Bryan and Mike, then sits in one of the empty chairs.

‘I’ve always liked blue and yellow,’ he says, leaning into the microphones, getting a laugh.

The questions begin immediately. Why Leeds? When did negotiations start? How difficult was it to leave Manchester after winning the Grand Final?