Reports: Leeds Rhinos star tipped to join NRL club

Last week there was speculation that one of Leeds Rhinos’ star signings could leave the club less than six months after he joined the club.

This is of course Sam Lisone and the speculation all started when it was announced that his partner Georgia Hale, a huge winter signing for the Rhinos women’s team, would be returning to Australia to play for Gold Coast Titans.

That said, as she bid farewell to Leeds, she told the Rhinos website that Lisone sees his future at the club.

She said:

“I think sometimes you need to look at the bigger picture of life in general and to get to back near family and home comforts it just happens that the NRLW is the pull to get there, but I will be back at Leeds.  My partner Sam Lisone is here and sees his future at the club and I am so in support of that.  I really want to return and keep building my personal relationship with the club, but it’s just a personal endeavour that I really do want to chase in Australia.”

Hence Lisone looks to be seeing out his contract at Leeds despite the fact his partner is headed home.

However, the Mole of Wide World of Sports expects Lisone to follow Hale back to the Titans in 2024.

He said:

“Don’t be surprised if tough forward Sam Lisone returns to the Titans from Super League club Leeds in 2024.

“Down the track, after six months apart from his beloved, don’t be surprised if the landscape changes.”

On leaving, Hale thanked Leeds for the opportunity:

“The girls have been so great at Leeds.  The efforts that Lois puts around her squad is admirable and I have just been really fortunate to be a part of that and see the system she has in place.  It’s just a shame that the distance between the New Zealand, Australia and England is so far apart and on a different time zone which makes it quite challenging.

“I have enjoyed my role at Leeds Rhinos Foundation and there is such a buy in from the community.  When I have been into the schools there’s lots of interest from girls to play rugby and clubs are keen to have teams so those are the seeds you need to plant for what you want to grow and that’s the feel across the entire region.  I think the girls game is in really good hands over here and will go from strength to strength.”