Leeds Rhinos‘ sporting director Ian Blease has spoken at length on the club’s recruitment and retainment with particular mentions on the signing of Kallum Watkins, talks with Australian agents, and other recruitment avenues.
The Rhinos have been busy in recent weeks with Watkins joining the club from Salford and making his second debut, 17 years after his first.
They’ve also re-signed the likes of Riley Lumb and James McDonnell and Blease has teased that more could come in the following weeks.
Speaking on the Leeds Rhinos’ YouTube channel, Blease would also concede how hard it is to keep balancing the books in a salary cap sport, admitting that plans for 2028 are already underway which only serves to complicate matters.
How Leeds signed Watkins and what comes next
✍️It’s contract season, so we had to get Ian Blease on the pod to talk about how it works!
Really great listen with our Sporting Director that’s not to be missed
📺Catch it at ➡️ https://t.co/ZfvEbugCwh pic.twitter.com/OcgbyngAM7
— Leeds Rhinos (@leedsrhinos) April 22, 2025
One deal that wasn’t complicated was the one to bring Kallum Watkins back to Headingley and Blease spoke about that transfer as well as what the future plans are for the veteran.
He explained: “It’s not the most pleasant of circumstances doing something like that to a club that I’ve got great fondness for but they contacted me basically.
“With a bit of haggling, we got to a deal that brought Kallum back here. There is a longer-term plan for him, in my mind and the minds of others. We’ve got him for this year and I’m in negotiations with him for next year and then we’ll see what the future holds for Kal.”
On that longer term plan, Blease indicated his intent to implement the second-rower into the “academy and youth system perhaps”, likely in a mentoring or even coaching role.
As well as speaking on past deals, Blease spoke about a busy upcoming fortnight with Magic Weekend set to see a number of Australian agents descend and hold meetings.
Blease confirmed: “A lot of the Australian agents come over now for Magic Weekend so there will be some meetings planned in for that. We’re looking to strengthen and consolidate, we want consistency in the squad.
“We’ve announced a couple of signings (new contracts) in the last week or so and hopefully, we’ll announce some more going forward.”
Leeds Rhinos director confirms interest in rugby union market
A different recruitment avenue that was also mentioned was rugby union with Wigan Warriors seemingly reminding Super League of the possibility so sign cross-coders.
Christian Wade will join the Cherry and Whites until the end of the season, arriving at the Brick Community Stadium when Gloucester’s season concludes, as the former England international and NFL running back takes on his third sport.
Rugby Union converts do not count on the salary cap so they can prove a savvy way to get more talent into the squad and Blease confirmed the Rhinos are actively scouting in the sport, even confirming that Leeds had come “close to” signing one or two players.
He explained: “We employ a consultant to watch the rugby union market for us so he’s busy every week and we’ve had a few looks at players. That’s an avenue that people do because they don’t get counted on your cap.”
Whilst union converts were commonplace at one point, it’s more rare now and Blease conceded:”It’s more difficult now to transition but we have got our eye on that market. Some of our academy players have come through the rugby union system.
“It’s more of a risk now so it’s got to be the right person and the right player. We’ve had a look and we’ve been close to one or two.”
