Leeds Rhinos’ fierce rivalry with near-neighbours Castleford Tigers will have even more of an edge this year when some old mates go head to head.
Tigers’ recruits include centre/winger Zac Cini and half-back Daejarn Asi from Parramatta Eels, where they were clubmates of Rhinos’ star signing Maika Sivo.
And the connections don’t end there. Leeds prop Cooper Jenkins played alongside Castleford’s newly-arrived second-rower Jeremiah Simbiken at 2024 Queensland Cup and NRL State Championship winners Norths Devils and the two are good mates off the field.
All five will be keen to get bragging rights against their former colleagues and the Leeds imports both reckon Tigers have done good business with their overseas additions.
Speaking to Serious About Rugby League, Fiji Test winger Sivo hailed Cini and Asi as “good signings”.
He said: “They were really good with us back home and I can’t wait to play against them.
“I will catch up with them when I can. Cini has already been messaging me for dinner and I am looking forward to coming up against them.
“I didn’t know about [the rivalry between Leeds Rhinos and Castleford], but it will be good.”
Jenkins and Simbiken are good friends and the Tigers man was at Headingley on Boxing Day when his former teammate made his first appearance for Leeds.
“He will go good,” prop Jenkins predicted of the Papua New Guinea international.
“I played with him all last year and he’s a great player, he will kill it over here.
“We are good mates, he is a tough player and a good player and he will be a starting back-rower, I am pretty sure.”
Rhinos play Tigers three times in Super League this year, so the two pals will be seeing plenty of each other.
Jenkins said: “It’s nice to have a familiar face around. There’ll be a bit of banter, we will be going at each other, but he’s a tough bloke – I will be staying away from him!”
