What Leeds Rhinos’ sporting director said about Super League’s ‘problem’ amidst Morgan Gannon’s NRL interest

Leeds Rhinos’ sporting director Ian Blease has labelled the loss of young English talents to the NRL as a “problem” in rugby league amidst the club’s own fight to keep hold of Morgan Gannon.

Gannon is reportedly set to sign a deal with New Zealand Warriors, however, Leeds seemingly haven’t given up hope that they can convince the forward to remain at Headingley.

The 21-year-old sees his contract expire at the end of the current season and Leeds have been trying in their efforts to keep hold of him, with Brad Arthur confirming recently that a “substantial offer” had been made.

Speaking to the media, Arthur said: “The club and Bleasey [sporting director Ian Blease] made a substantial offer to him

“They’ll sort that out in the next couple of days, but the club can’t do any more. I don’t think he is staying, but as far as I am aware, he hasn’t signed any contracts.”

Now, Ian Blease has had his say with the former Salford man confirming that the exodus of young English players to the NRL is a “problem in the game”.

Ian Blease speaks on Morgan Gannon’s Leeds Rhinos future

Appearing on Leeds Rhinos’ YouTube channel, Blease spoke on a number of matters and whilst Gannon’s future wasn’t explicitly on the agenda, it got mentioned when the sporting director was asked about the number of English players leaving for the NRL.

“We do and we’ve got a problem in the game with our younger players,” Blease explained with the likes of Morgan Smithies, Kai Pearce-Paul and Matty Nicholson all making the move Down Under before the age of 25 in recent years.

It would seem that 21-year-old Gannon could be next on the list, and Blease confirmed the club’s efforts to keep hold of the second-row forward.

He explained: “I’ve been speaking to Morgan and his management team for the last few months now and it will be Morgan’s choice now but I think the game has got to somehow come up with a solution for this. We are losing them and the salary cap is a big difference in Australia.

“As a professional, do you want to go play in the NRL? Yeah, you probably do but it’s all about timing and that’s up to Morgan and his management and his family to decide.

“He’s a great kid and we don’t want to lose him and we’ve made a substantial offer to him so hopefully he makes the right decision.”

Gannon is having a brilliant start to 2025 but the youngster didn’t play at all in 2024 due to repeated issues with concussion. He had his breakout year in 2022 when he played 25 games as the Rhinos made it to the Grand Final, a game which he missed.