Leeds and Cronulla agree Segeyaro deal

Leeds Rhinos have given permission for James Segeyaro to start training with Cronulla Sharks with the team’s finally agreeing a deal.

The PNG international refused to return to Leeds ahead of the 2017 season, with Rhinos chief executive Gary Hetherington not willing to accept anything less that £250,000 for the hooker.

With no NRL sides prepared to pay the sizeable price tag for Segeyaro, and his contract with Leeds in place until 2019, he has been frozen out of the game completely.

However, Sharks head coach Shane Flanagan revealed today that they had been given permission by the Rhinos to allow the 26-year-old to train with the NRL Premiers.

“They’ve given him approval to train with the squad pending a formal release from Leeds,” Flanagan told the Press Association.

“It’s good for James. He’s been on his own for four months trying to do the best he can so at least now he can train with some other players, whether it’s our reserve-grade squad or whatever.”

Although Flanagan did not reveal the details of the agreement between the two clubs and the player, he said the deal is “finally starting to get sorted out.”

Cronulla have been chasing Segeyaro since he refused to return to England, with the club desperate to replace former number nine Michael Ennis who retired at the end of last season.