One Leeds Rhinos youngster will spend the next week on loan in the Championship after making a switch to a local club.
Jacob Stead has joined Batley Bulldogs ahead of their tie with Oldham RLFC on Friday.
It won’t be the first short-term switch the back-rower/loose forward has had this season, with him already playing for Keighley Cougars four times in 2026.
In that time, he scored three tries, so has already proved himself capable of handling the second tier. However, he is yet to make his Super League debut.
Stead was part of Leeds’ reserves championship-winning team of 2025, though he missed the Grand Final win against Warrington. He signed his first professional contract at the club in August 2023.
Batley currently sit ninth in the Championship, winning eight of 16 games so far. They have won four of their last six, though their last two have both been defeats.
✍️ 𝙅𝘼𝘾𝙊𝘽 𝙎𝙏𝙀𝘼𝘿 𝙅𝙊𝙄𝙉𝙎 𝙊𝙉 𝙇𝙊𝘼𝙉!
We are delighted to announce the signing of loose forward, Jacob Stead from Leeds Rhinos on an intial one week loan.
Jacobs is a product of the Leeds Rhinos Academy. He most recently has spent a loan spell at Keighley Cougars… pic.twitter.com/Pfntr9JVgU
— Batley Bulldogs RLFC (@BatleyRLFC) July 1, 2026
