A Leeds Rhinos prop has signed a one-year deal with a fellow Yorkshire club ahead of the upcoming 2025 season.
Prop has been a position of need for Leeds Rhinos in recent years and the club have already seen French international Mickael Goudemand depart from Headingley after the conclusion of the 2024 campaign.
The ex-Catalans man departed just one year into his deal but Ian Blease has got to work with the help of Brad Arthur’s NRL links with the Rhinos confirming two NRL signings in recent weeks.
However, they’ve now seen one of their youngsters depart with Leo Aliyu signing a one-year deal with League One outfit Keighley Cougars.
It’s unclear and unspecified if the deal is a permanent move or if it is a loan, as Super League clubs often like to do with their young talents, but it is clear that Aliyu will be plying his trade at Cougar Park in 2025.
League One outfit sign Leeds Rhinos prop
The signing was confirmed by Keighley who are two weeks removed from losing the League One play-off final to Hunslet RLFC with the Leeds-based club going on to defeat Swinton Lions to secure their place in the Championship for 2025.
As for Keighley, back in League One, they’ve gone about building a squad that will help them to automatic promotion in 2025 with the Cougars already signing Harry Bowes from Wakefield, Valu Tane Bentley from Leigh Leopards and Izaac Farrell from Sheffield Eagles.
Now, they’ve landed Aliyu from Leeds Rhinos, something they reported via their X profile.
A post read: “Welcome Leo Aliyu! Leo is a young prop from Leeds Rhinos and joins Keighley Cougars on a one-year deal.”
Head coach, Jake Webster said “Leo is a big raw unit with great leg speed. If we can channel that and work with Leo on the technical detail of the game we have a great player on our hands. He stands 6ft tall, 104kg and he’s from a good system over at Leeds Rhinos so will come to us with some naturally great habits.”
As referenced earlier, Leeds Rhinos have recently signed two NRL props with Keenan Palasia and Cooper Jenkins arriving at Headingley for 2025. Fans will get a chance to see Palasia in action soon, potentially even at Headingley, with the former Gold Coast man named to Samoa’s 23-man squad to take on England.
Welcome Leo Aliyu! Leo is a young prop from Leeds Rhinos and joins Keighley Cougars on a one-year deal.
Jake Webster said “Leo is a big raw unit with great leg speed. If we can channel that and work with Leo on the technical detail of the game we have a great player on our… pic.twitter.com/jIhJTOQtzI
— Keighley Cougars (@Cougarmania) October 19, 2024
