Leeds Rhinos boss Brad Arthur has confirmed that more of his first team players have penned new deals as he looks to build the squad for 2027 and beyond.
Whilst the ex-Parramatta man was coy on naming who had signed contracts, Arthur did reveal that announcements will be made in due course, and on the whole he is happy with how his squad for 12 months time is shaping up.
Over the past month or so, the club have confirmed extensions for Lachie Miller, Jake Connor and Keenan Palasia to name a few, but as it stands Leeds still have eight players without a confirmed deal for 2026.
Brodie Croft and Jarrod O’Connor are arguably the two biggest priorities on the list, but the situations for some of those players seems to have changed over the past week or so.
Speaking in a press conference at the club’s media day, Arthur revealed the current state of play, and also touched on how they have, and will continue to work around any players who wish to exit the club.
He said: “I think most of it has pretty much been ticked off. We’ve had some reasonably good news this week that will be public soon.
“We’re comfortable with where we are at. The guys that we’ve lost, you can’t be cranky about it. They want to go to the next level, and the highest level, as possible, so we should be proud of that.
“We lost Sam Lisone to another Super League club [Hull FC], he’s the only one. We’re disappointed about that, but again, we couldn’t compete with the offer that he had. You can’t begrudge blokes for doing what’s best for them.”
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Leeds Rhinos boss addresses Kallum Watkins future and makes bold front row claim
One area that Leeds are privileged in at the moment is at prop. The four senior players that are favoured in that position are all contracted long term, and Arthur believes that will be a key part of the success going forward.
“[In general] We’ve got a good crop of young kids that are coming through. Bleasey [Ian Blease] has done a good job, especially in the front row.
You’re looking at Cooper, Keenan, Mik, Tom Holroyd, two of those guys are in the English squad. Cooper Jenkins has really emerged, Keenan was one of the better forwards in the competition last year.
Those four guys would be starting front rowers in any other team in Super League and they’re locked away for the next three seasons.”
Arthur also dropped a slight hint on one of the eight off-contract players. England international Kallum Watkins will need to sign a new deal if he is to stay at Headingley for 2027. At aged 34, most rugby league players are considering retirement, but the boss believes that isn’t the case for his new vice-captain.
Commenting on his squad and the depth they have, he said: “…Ethan O’Neill we’re giving him an opportunity, [we’ve got] Kallum there who is likely to go another season, and then it just opens up some avenues for some of the other young blokes.”
