Rating each club’s transfers: Leeds Rhinos

We continue our look at the transfer business of each club in the Super League so far.

This time, we look at a Leeds Rhinos team who are hoping to put the struggles of the last few years behind them.

In

Matt Prior (Cronulla Sharks)

Kruise Leeming (Huddersfield Giants)

Luke Gale (Castleford Tigers)

Alex Mellor (Huddersfield Giants)

Out

Wellington Albert (Featherstone Rovers) (Loan)

Trent Merrin (St George-Illawarra Dragons)

Owen Trout (Huddersfield Giants)

Brad Singleton (Toronto Wolfpack)

Shaun Lunt (Batley Bulldogs)

Brett Ferres (Featherstone Rovers)

Nathaniel Peteru (Released)

Sam Moorhouse (Dewsbury Rams)

Matt Parcell (Hull KR)

Ashton Golding (Huddersfield Giants)

Carl Ablett (Retired)

Analysis

The Rhinos have made a few statement signings, as they look to put the struggles of the last two seasons behind them.

In Matt Prior, they have a two-time NRL champion, having previously won it at St George in 2010 and Cronulla in 2016.

He is a versatile forward who can play anywhere in the forward line and should be a good addition for the Rhinos.

After losing Matt Parcell and Shaun Lunt in the off-season, Leeds needed a new hooker and found him in the shape of Kruise Leeming. He played over 100 games for Huddersfield, scoring 15 tries.

At 24, he certainly is one who can build into that position and really make it his own in years to come.

He’s been joined in Leeds by Huddersfield teammate Alex Mellor.

Mellor was a highlight for the Giants when he did play and will add something different to the forward line.

Finally, they added scrum half Luke Gale from West Yorkshire rivals Castleford Tigers.

Gale hasn’t played competitive rugby in over a year, after a pre-season injury kept him out for the whole of the 2019 season.

Whether or not he can bring back that form that won him the Man of Steel back in 2017, remains to be seen. But if he can, then it should be some brilliant business from Leeds.

Rating

7/10