Leeds Rhinos have announced the signing of Sam Lisone on a two-year deal starting from the 2023 campaign.
A Samoan international, the prop will give some real fire power to the Rhinos pack in 2023 but leaves a gap at centre but takes Leeds’ last quota spot of the 2023 season.
That’s despite the fact fans have routinely speculated that one of the current quota spot holders could leave Leeds.
David Fusitu’a endured an injury hit first season at Leeds and all season fans speculated that he would leave Headingley prematurely despite signing a two-year deal last year meaning he is contracted for 2023.
The two wingers Leeds have signed in Derrell Olpherts and Luis Roberts has not done much to do away with these rumours but now any doubt over Fusitu’a’s future has been all but confirmed with Lisone revealing that his childhood friend was a big reason for him joining the Rhinos.
He said: “It is a new chapter for me and a fresh start, not just for playing but a new lifestyle, in a new country. I have got a lot of mates in Super League and I grew up in Auckland with David Fusitu’a, he’s probably one of the reasons why I wanted to come to Leeds because we were childhood friends.”
So both Lisone and Fusitu’a will be at Leeds next season as the friends reunite and hope to bring glory back to Leeds.
Who will play centre remains to be seen.
