Brad Arthur has admitted that Jordan Rapana was someone Leeds Rhinos were chasing ahead of the 2025 campaign. Rapana will be moving to Super League next season but it seems he will be wearing the black and white of Hull FC rather than the blue and amber of Leeds.
The Canberra Raiders man is said to have signed a two-year deal with the East Yorkshire side, leaving Leeds to look elsewhere in their hunt to add to Arthur’s squad. The Rhinos have just announced that six players will be leaving Headingley at the end of the season and among them will be Tonga international David Fusitu’a, who will part ways with the Rhinos are spending three seasons with the club.
As such, Leeds will be looking to add another outside-back to their squad over the off-season and according to SARL’s sister site, the Yorkshire Evening Post, the club are hoping to announce at least one more recruit over the next two or three weeks, with Arthur confirming the two areas they are looking to strengthen.
“He [Rapana] was someone we had some interest in,” Arthur confirmed ahead of the club’s final home game of the season against Hull FC on Friday night.
“We’ve got two quota spots we are looking at and we’re getting a lot of players thrown at us at the moment. We just want to make sure whatever players we bring in, they are better than the players we’ve got and they can do their job and make a difference to the team.”
On what he would like to add to his Leeds Rhinos side, Arthur added: “Not so much a winger – another quality outside-back to keep everyone honest and have competition for spots would be handy. And a strong front-rower who can get out some good minutes would be ideal as well.
“We definitely want to boost the squad; we have two quota spots and we just need to make sure we fill them with players that our worthy of joining our team.
“Someone who can carry the ball strong and help us get out of the back field, someone that’s nice and competitive.”
Leeds have already secured the signing of Ryan Hall for next season with the winger returning to the club from Hull KR.
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