Huddersfield Giants boss Jim Lenihan has confirmed that the club are looking at the possibility of bringing Hull FC half-back Jake Arthur.
Arthur remains contracted at the MKM Stadium for another season, having only arrived in Super League at the start of this season, but reports say that he could be set for a premature exit.
Huddersfield are one club said to be interested in him, and that rumour made it’s way into Lenihan’s press conference, where he was asked if a potential move could be on the cards.
The Giants boss revealed that Arthur, 23, is one of several half-backs the club are speaking to, and that the side are only in the early stages of finalising next year’s spine.
“There’s just a bit of due diligence going on,” he told BBC Radio Leeds. “I think we’re talking to a few half-backs. We’re always touching base with people, and there’s no hard, concrete evidence of a decision being made yet, certainly going into the back-end of the year.
“We’re just touching base with a few clubs and players, and Jake Arthur is certainly one that’s come up on the radar because of his movement from Hull FC.”
Current halves Adam Clune and Tui Lolohea are no closer to securing their futures at the club, with the side opting to wait until the season is over to formalise any potential extensions.
“Nothing concrete there yet,” Lenihan said on the pair’s future. “With Adam, it’s just getting to the back end of the year. We don’t want to get too convoluted with contract talks or him worrying about too much right now.
“He’s just trying to get to the back end of the year, then we’ll assess that, and a little bit with Tui as well.
“We’re in a position where we’re just looking to play good football, see how it all folds for us at the back end of the year, and we’ll be making those decisions over the next two or three weeks.”
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Huddersfield Giants boss confirms Oli Leyland contract extension
One half-back who has confirmed his future is Oli Leyland, who has agreed a deal to stay with the side for 2027.
After initially joining on a trial basis, the former London and Warrington man signed full-time terms to the end of the season, and he will now remain at the Giants for at least another 12 months.
Asked if Leyland has signed new terms, Lenihan revealed: “Yeah, I think we’ve looked to extend Oli for next year.
“I think he profiles really well for us. He’s someone who can sit in for us as a good third half-back… he’s got extensive experience in that area, and he sits at a level where, if we’re missing our top half or second half, he can come in and do a job for us.
“It keeps constant pressure on those two top guys to perform well. For us, he really profiles well to be that third half-back.”
