Veteran Leeds Rhinos winger Ryan Hall is considering going around again next season, despite turning 39 in November.
Rhinos coach Brad Arthur today (Wednesday) confirmed Leeds are in discussions with both Hall and Australian prop Matt Lodge, who joined them on a short-term deal last month.
They are the only two members of Rhinos’ squad whose future at the club has yet to be resolved.
Hall is out of contract this autumn, and has been offered an off-field role at the club after he hangs up his boots, but hasn’t yet decided when that will be.
“Bleasey [sporting director Ian Blease] is just working through some details with him,” Arthur said. “That should be sorted soon enough, I would say.”
Asked if he feels Hall could do another year, the coach added: “Hally does.
“Obviously it’s hard to keep doing it week-in, week-out as you get older, but he’s doing a good job for us and feels like he can keep doing it.
“He’s making some changes to his shape, which will help. These sort of decisions, I think, are best left to the player.
“The only conversations I’ve had with Hally are that he needs to make the decision on when he’s ready to give it away, not me or Bleasey.
“That needs to be on him. He can’t be forcing us into the decision either – he needs to know when the time is right.”
“No guarantees” – Starting spots up for grabs at Leeds Rhinos in 2027
Rhinos have signed Australian winger/centre Nick Cotric from Catalans Dragons, and Arthur insisted he can’t guarantee Hall – or anyone else – a regular place in the starting lineup for 2027.
He said: “I’ve got no idea what happens between now and next year.
“What I do know is we are going to have another good, strong squad and competition for spots is going to be healthy.
“We’ve got pre-season training, then a couple of trial matches and form – I am not making any guarantees for anyone for next year.”
Lodge joined Leeds from North Queensland Cowboys in August on terms until the end of this season.
He has made three appearances so far, all as a substitute and is also speaking to the club about his future.
“Bleasey is talking to him,” Arthur said of the 31-year-old. “As far as I know, he likes the club and the area; it’s just whether he wants to commit to staying in Super League.
“There have been consistent conversations between him and Bleasey.”
Meanwhile, Arthur conceded Rhinos were keen to retain 21-year-old centre Ned McCormack, who will join Wakefield Trinity next year.
“We would have liked to have kept him, but obviously their offer is better and they have offered him more opportunity,” Arthur stated.
“It is what it is; we’ve got lots of good young guys coming through and unfortunately can’t make promises to everyone we can’t keep.
“There was an opportunity for him to stay and he thinks that [joining Trinity] is going to be better for him.”
