Agent still expects Leeds Rhinos to sign rival centre and believes Rohan Smith needs more signings to avoid relegation scrap

There’s been a lot of talk about Leigh Leopards over the last week.

The newly renamed club announced 12 signings last Thursday alongside their rebrand.

However, this left them with eight overseas players which is one more than is permitted in Super League at present with the quota only allowing seven.

Thus, many people are expecting Leigh to have to offload one of their star players before the start of the 2023 season.

High profile rugby league agent Craig Harrison believes this is the case as well and has named the player he thinks will move on.

Speaking on his YouTube channel Show Me The Money Rugby League TV in a brilliant special called Inside the Deal assessing the business Leigh have done coming into next season, when asked who will leave the Leopards, Harrison simply said: “Nene MacDonald to Leeds Rhinos.”

He went on to say: “Are Leeds strong enough with Luke Hooley and Richie Myler at fullback next year. Is there anything else?

“I think for Leeds to avoid getting dragged into the relegation scrap they need to bring in two or three players.”

So, Harrison believes Leeds need to bring in players and believes MacDonald will be one of them despite the fact he signed a two-year deal going into 2022 meaning he is contracted to the Leopards for next year.

The Rhinos themselves have used up all their quota spots with the signing of Sam Lisone from Gold Coast Titans ahead of 2023.

However, there are rumours that Leeds are open to moving players on with Bradford still expected to sign one or two more players from Headingley.

If Leeds were to move on a quota player, with rumours circulating around Matt Prior at this present moment, they could sign MacDonald as well as using the cap space to recruit domestic players.

That all said, Leigh owner Derek Beaumont has claimed Leigh won’t have to move players on in 2023 despite being over the quota.

He said: “No one has to leave. We will be compliant with operational rules which we expect to be reviewed around the restriction especially concerning British citizens who are non-fed trained.

“A loaned player isn’t on your quota and can be changed every 2 weeks. We will have a partner club.”