Jon Wilkin has claimed that Leeds Rhinos “pinched Salford’s pockets” when they landed the double deal of Andy Ackers and Brodie Croft, even going as far as to say they got Andy Ackers for free.
It was the deal of the off-season when Leeds confirmed the double signing of Salford Red Devils’ two star players, the former Man of Steel winner Brodie Croft and England international Andy Ackers.
Leeds were without a senior half-back after the departure of Aiden Sezer and Blake Austin but the addition of ex-Huddersfield man Matt Frawley and the deal for Croft looks to have made them stronger.
They’ve also replaced their 2023 starters at full-back and hooker with Richie Myler departing and being replaced with Lachie Miller, whilst Jarrod O’Connor looks set to drop to the bench to make way for England star Andy Ackers.
That brand new spine as well as signings such as Paul Momirovski and Mickael Goudemand have left Leeds Rhinos as one of the clubs tipped for a major bounce-back season.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Leeds Rhinos’ forward James McDonnell has praised the impact of both men whilst outlining the significance of the Rhinos hosting Salford on Friday night.
“It’s massive for them really, isn’t it, to be facing the team that they used to play for,” McDonnell told Jenna Brooks and Jon Wilkin.
“I’m not sure it was all one-sided. Obviously, Nene Macdonald made the jump in the other direction and that’s one that we’ll be looking at. He’s definitely a threat.
“Brodie and Ackers have brought a next level to our team, along with the other signings that we’ve met, but them two in particular, they really took us to another level.”
“It was a bit of a buy one, get one free deal” – Jon Wilkin reveals rumour surrounding Leeds Rhinos’ double deal
Former Man of Steel Brodie Croft is one of Leeds Rhinos key signings for 2024. – © MATTHEW MERRICK PHOTOGRAPHY
It was a major deal when Leeds Rhinos landed both Andy Ackers and Brodie Croft, one that Gary Hetherington commented upon as being the largest single investment since the purchase of Iestyn Harris over 20 years ago.
The fact that the first game on the calendar for the new signings pits them against their old club is an added element to the story, and something that Sky Sports pundit Jon Wilkin claims cannot be played down.
Speaking on Sky Sports, he said: “I just don’t think they can play it down, not in the light of us talking about it. We’re going to talk about it, we’ll ham it up to the end. It’s a really interesting story.”
He then went on to reveal his own opinion on the deal, before mentioning a rumour surrounding what exactly the £300,000 deal entailed.
“Leeds have gone out and pinched poor Salford’s pockets. Tyler Dupree left last year to Wigan. Salford have been raided of some of their best players.
“In Brodie Croft and Andy Ackers, it’s not just two players, but it’s the combination of those two players together, which excites me about Leeds.
“It was a bit of a buy one, get one free deal. Buy Brodie Croft, you got Andy Akers free apparently. That’s the rumour. For Leeds, I think they look like they’ve got some real balance in the team.”
See below Jon Wilkin’s assessment of Andy Ackers and Brodie Croft’s move to Leeds Rhinos.
“Brodie and Ackers have brought a next level to our team”-James McDonnell pleased with new additions🦏 pic.twitter.com/roaWpcXPiH
— Sky Sports Rugby League (@SkySportsRL) February 13, 2024
