Former Hull FC and Leeds Rhinos full-back Jack Walker has revealed he actually rejected a Headingley return this off-season as well as an “unbelievable” offer from League One.
Walker, who was released by Hull FC in November alongside Morgan Smith and Liam Tindall, eventually signed alongside Smith for Championship side Sheffield Eagles.
However, the journey before joining the Eagles saw Walker training on his own with the full-back documenting that journey on his TikTok channel.
He has grown a platform there where he regularly answers fan questions which has seen him reveal that he’s previously rejected offers from Down Under and named his Ultimate XIII of former teammates, but he’s now spoken about this off-season.
Asked by one fan if he had any offers outside of Sheffield, Walker revealed three including Leeds Rhinos – the club for whom he played in a Grand Final aged 17 before leaving them at the end of 2022.
Walker previously spoke with Serious About Rugby League this off-season and confirmed Leeds Rhinos talks but he’s now discussed which other clubs offered him a move.
Jack Walker reveals rejected Leeds Rhinos move plus “unbelievable” League One offer
Credit: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com
A return to Headingley would have been quite incredible but Walker argued that it “wasn’t the right decision”.
Speaking on his off-season offers, the 25-year-old said: “I got [an offer from] Leeds Rhinos but I just thought with opportunity that it wasn’t the right decision.
“They’ve got Jake Connor, [Lachie] Miller and a couple of young boys as well, so I think I’d have just been in the reserves or loaned out.”
Moving onto his other offers, he said: “Featherstone (as well) but I got the sense they weren’t really that keen because I think they were all set with their team and they were happy with what they had.
“I got offered Midlands (Hurricanes), which was an unbelievable offer for League 1 money, but it just wasn’t enough money.
“I was swaying that way though to be fair, but Sheffield came in and they were very, very keen. I know a few people there as well because I’ve played with Morgan [Smith] and Corey [Johnson]. ”
Explaining his decision to join Sheffield, for whom he made his Championship debut with this past weekend, Walker highlighted his Super League ambitions as being the key factor.
The full-back explained: “I just thought Sheffield was the right place for me with it being Championship as well, because dropping down into League 1, to then get a potential move back into Super League is a bit of a big jump.
“Obviously, the end goal for me is to get back to Super League, as it would be for anyone. I always want to reach the top level.”
