Leeds Rhinos boss confirms interest in NRL enforcer as latest Danny Levi update given

Rhinos are looking at the Cronulla Sharks prop as a possible replacement for England front-rower Mikolaj Oledzki, who will join Perth Bears next season.

Other clubs are also believed to be chasing the Auckland-born 31-year-old, who has been capped by both New Zealand and Samoa and is the older brother of Wakefield Trinity pack ace Caleb Hamlin-Uele.

Speaking at his weekly press conference today (Thursday) ahead of Sunday’s home derby against Bradford Bulls, Arthur said: “I have had a conversation with him and Bleasey [Sporting Director Ian Blease] has been back and forth with his manager. It is with Bleasey and his manager at the moment.”

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Leeds Rhinos boss offers Danny Levi latest

Meanwhile, Arthur has provided an update on hooker Danny Levi after he was stretchered off during last weekend’s defeat at Castleford Tigers.

Levi needed hospital treatment after being knocked out late in the first half, and Arthur said: “Danny is in good spirits – he’s back to his usual annoying self!

“He is fine, he has recovered pretty well. He had another set of scans on Tuesday and we are just waiting to hear back from the specialist, which probably won’t be until early next week.

“There might be some issues around some disk bulge and stuff like that, which a lot of players have and he had one previously anyway, but in terms of major damage to his neck or anything like that, he has got the all-clear, and in terms of the concussion, he has got over that.

“When he is right to play, we don’t know. That’s not on the top of our mind at the moment. We’ll hear back from the specialist and go from there.”

Rhinos led 20-4 at the time of Levi’s injury, but – after a lengthy delay  – conceded two tries in the five minutes before half-time.

“It probably had more of an effect on us than we realised,” Arthur stated.

“When there was that long stoppage I didn’t send any messages out. I sort of lost my focus on the team and what we were actually there for; my focus was actually on Danny and his wife and his daughter.

“I just wanted to make sure they were okay. Looking back on it, I think Danny is more important than a game of footy.

“We are not looking for excuses, it’s just one of those unfortunate things that happen. We probably didn’t handle it the best, but we’ll move on from it. Danny’s fine now and that’s the main thing.”

Second-rower Chris Hankinson has also been ruled out of Sunday. Arthur explained: “He stumbled in the tackle and the rule is there straight away; regardless of how he pulls up it’s a category one so he will miss this week. Again, he is fine now, and he is tracking to be right next week.”

Rookie forward Ben Littlewood, who has made two substitute appearances this season, will replace Hankinson.

Littlewood had a spell on loan at York Knights and made his comeback from a hand injury in Rhinos’ reserves last week.

“We have got all the confidence in the world,” Arthur said. “We are not going to put Ben on the bench and ease him in. We’re going to put him straight there on the left-side. He has had a full week of training, and he’ll do a good job for us.”