ASHTON GOLDING said today that he is determined to make the most of his opportunity with the Super League champions but is also bracing himself for more setbacks in his career.

Still only 21, the Leeds full-back said his mental powers were tested to the full after missing out on two of the biggest games rugby league has to offer.

Despite being handed the No 1 jersey following the departure of Zak Hardaker, Golding lost out to teenager Jack Walker for last October’s Grand Final and coach Brian McDermott kept faith with the latter for February’s World Club Challenge in Melbourne.

However, an injury to Walker in the Rhinos’ defeat to the Australian champions opened the door for Golding and, after making his seasonal debut in Sunday’s league defeat at Widnes, he is hoping to impress when Leeds play Catalans Dragons at Headingley tomorrow.

“Being left out of the Grand Final was disappointing,” he recalled. “Mentally you’ve got to be tough, but I’ve always prided myself on being mentally tough.

“I tried to keep my head switched on. That one was a challenge. And obviously the World Club Challenge this year took its toll mentally.

“Like I say, I’m in a great mental space at the moment, I’ve got great people around me. My family and friends are there, they understand what I’m going through.

“I said to my missus: ‘You’re going to have to bear with me’ and mum was the same. They are both diamonds and I don’t think I could have got through it without people like them.”

McDermott has praised the attitude of Golding, who flew 12,000 miles to be 18th man in Melbourne and the player insists he was able to savour the club’s Old Trafford triumph from the sidelines.

“It’s a tough decision for a coach to make and I can’t begrudge him,” Golding said.

“At the end of the day we won the Grand Final and I could only be there to support the boys and fully commit to the cause.

“Individually I was really disappointed and a lot of the boys got round me, but collectively as a team we’re champions.

“I’ve got to look at the bigger picture and the fact that I’m 21. Hopefully I can be competing for a few of them and actually getting a spot and playing.”

Golding is now profiting from Walker’s misfortune, but he knows the rivalry will continue once the latter is fit again and believes the team can only benefit.

“It’s not as cut-throat as it may seem on the outside,” Golding added. “Behind the scenes, we’re working hard together.

“He had his shot, he’ll get his shot again and I’ll be there to tee him up.

“It’s the same with him, if he knows an offensive tip that I can have, he’ll tell me.

“We thrive together, we push each other. That’s the bigger picture again, the only way the team can prosper from this situation.”