Blake Austin set to join NRL club after Leeds Rhinos exit

Former Leeds Rhinos and Warrington Wolves halfback Blake Austin has returned to Australia after five years in the UK.

In a statement made on social media, Austin said he was “shattered” to be making the move back home. Though excited to be returning home, he is disappointed that he missed the opportunity to get citizenship in the UK by a matter of months.

Austin came to the UK in 2019 joining Warrington Wolves and turning down the Rhinos. He was nominated for the Man of Steel that year but missed out on the Challenge Cup Final through injury.

At the end of 2021, he joined Leeds Rhinos on a one year deal and shortly after joining extended his stay by a further 12 months.

He made it to the Grand Final in 2023 and was excellent at times in 2023 picking up the Player of the Month award at one stage.

This was part of the problem with the stand-off putting the club under pressure to sign him to a new deal.

This was worsened by his appearance on the JBK Show and many have speculated that this was part of the reason he was moved onto Castleford Tigers.

One of the things he said was that he would do a good job in the NRL: “I have never been afraid to do things a bit differently. If an opportunity came up to go home, that would be something I would look at and my kids would push me and force me to look at.

“I am really confident I could cut it. I think I could do a really good job at 14.

“If I was going back I would want to go to a successful team and just focus on me but I’m open to all offers.”

When asked if he would sign for Wests Tigers who were in the market for a halfback at the time, he said “Well they can give me a call if they want.”

Now in Australia, sources down under have reported that he could pick up an NRL contract for next year or at least a train and trial contract suggesting that some clubs are surveying the situation.