Leeds Rhinos playmaker set to sign with a new club to ‘develop’ his eventual replacement

There’s been lots of talk surrounding the recruitment and retention at Headingley, more specifically that presently the confirmed half backs for 2024 would most likely be youngsters Morgan Gannon and Jack Sinfield.

That follows Blake Austin’s dramatic last minute loan move to Castleford Tigers which saw him abandon playoff chances at Headingley for a relegation scrap at the Jungle.

Austin was off contract for 2024 anyway but the move away seemed to confirm any chance of him re-signing with the Rhinos, something that head coach Rohan Smith bluntly explained during his press conference this past week.

When asked if Austin’s time at Headingley was over, Smith replied: “I think that’s, yeah, safe to say.”

The club’s other half back is Austin’s former Raiders teammate Aiden Sezer and he too is off contract for 2024 and has had plenty of links with a return to the NRL.

The most recent one seems to carry the most weight and it once again links him with Wests Tigers to work under Benji Marshall.

Wests have been keen to splash the cash this season and for the future with ex Wigan Warriors man John Bateman signing on what was believed to be a huge contract.

Now it’s being reported by The Daily Telegraph that Wests are moving for wooden spoon rivals’, St George Illawarra Dragons, Jayden Sullivan with the young half expected to ink a four year deal worth just over $500,000 per year.

Sullivan is currently out for the season and the deal is subject to a medical however the Tigers see him as their future, and they see Aiden Sezer as the man to mentor and develop him.

That’s what Fox Sports are reporting with Sezer believed to be on Marshall’s wish list with the aim of being the starter and then helping develop the club’s youngsters, with the incoming Sullivan being one of those.

One reason that Wests want a veteran in the ilk of Sezer is that their current playmaker Luke Brooks, who was widely expected to move to Headingley, has signed a four year deal with Manly Sea Eagles leaving a key vacancy that is expected Sezer will fill.