 After spending the 1996 season on loan at Hunslet Hawks, he joined Leeds Rhinos.Sterling was the top try scorer for Leeds Rhinos during 1997's Super Leagu II.Sterling won a cap for England while at Leeds in 1999 against France, and won caps for Wales in the 2000 Rugby League World Cup against Cook Islands, Lebanon, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea, at 36 years of age, he was the oldest player in the tournament.