Leeds Rhinos are celebrating a new long-term contract for one of their most highly-rated rising stars.
The deal will keep winger Riley Lumb at the club until the end of 2029, which is longer than any other player.
The 20-year-old Leeds academy graduate had two years remaining on a deal announced last June, but that has been extended after an eye-catching start to the campaign.
Lumb, who scored two tries in a man of the match performance on his debut away to Hull FC 12 months ago, has played in all Rhinos’ nine competitive games so far this year, touching down six times.
He was handed a surprise opportunity in January when star signing Maika Sivo was ruled out for the entire campaign and insisted: “I’m really enjoying my rugby at the minute. I am playing week-in, week-out and I am really happy to be staying here.
“I’ve been at the Rhinos since the scholarship and I am really looking forward to what lies ahead. I’m here to win things as well and I’m looking forward to seeing how we can go this year. Hopefully we can get some silverware.”
A product of the Lock Lane club in his home town of Castleford, Lumb stressed: “I’m just trying to improve every week.
“I have meetings with [coach] Brad Arthur every week about my defence and attacking game and the things I can improve on.
“I wasn’t really expecting to play so much this year, obviously, with Maika coming over, but as a result of Maika’s unfortunate injury I have been selected and things are working out for me.
“Ash Handley has been great for me to play alongside and also off the field – he talks to me about little things I can do to improve my game and has always been a really big help to me.”
Brad Arthur on Leeds Rhinos’ Riley Lumb
Arthur insisted Lumb “thoroughly deserves this new deal after his efforts over the last year”. The coach said: “The biggest compliment I can give him is he is a fast learner.
“Every challenge he has faced, he has taken head on and is better each week for the experience.
“I thought last week at Salford, although he wasn’t on the score sheet, he had one of his best games for us because you could see his growing maturity and self-assurance in the game and that only comes from having the right attitude to improving and listening to your coaches and team mates.”
Lumb’s new arrangement was announced two days after Leeds confirmed second-rower James McDonnell has re-signed until the end of next season.
Leeds Rhinos’ sporting director Ian Blease added: “As a club are very pleased to have secured Riley’s long-term future.
“Building a competitive squad requires a good mixture of players coming through the youth pathway programme, along with experienced players. Riley is now an example of this, coming through our youth transition into Super League.
“The club will continue to evolve on this front, with excellent work being done by our coaches in our youth systems, plus it is important for me to demonstrate we will reward our young players when they put the hard work in to achieve wearing the Rhinos shirt in the first team.
“Riley is a player I love to watch and is now becoming a regular in Super League, however he would be the first to admit he still has lots to learn and as a club we will need to look after him. With this new deal, he is now very much part of our club’s future plans.”
