Assessing Leeds Rhinos pack options for 2026 after star man signs new deal

Since his mid-season switch from struggling Salford Red Devils, Kallum Watkins has not returned to Leeds Rhinos just for a nostalgia trip. Instead, he has been crucial to Brad Arthur’s side in his seven matches at the club so far. 

That form has earned him a new deal, with the club announced this morning that the 34-year-old would stay at Headingley until the end of the 2026 season. 

Many Leeds Rhinos fans will be delighted with the news, however it poses a healthy selection headache for the Headingley coaching staff, as they now have a plethora of options, particularly in the back-row and loose-forward spots. 

This season has already seen Tom Holroyd, James Bentley and James McDonnell sign for at least another year, whilst promising youngster Morgan Gannon will leave the club to join NRL outfit NZ Warriors. 

Here are all the current forward pack options for the Rhinos heading into 2026. 

Props: 

After their strong form at the start of this year, it is likely that Mikolaj Oledzki and Keenan Palasia will regain their ‘starting’ spots. We  say starting in a very loose term as Arthur has been known to switch his forwards regularly from starters to bench players, but these two have definitely been the stand outs. 

Tom Holroyd, a homegrown talent at the Rhinos, has impressed in his stints off the bench whilst Cooper Jenkins, signed from Norths Devils in the off-season, has also taken well to the Super League competition. 

There is a wealth of youngsters waiting for their chance to show their talent too. Tom Nicholson-Watton was captain of the academy before his promotion to the first team. Daniel Stelfox, who is just 17, signed his first professional contract with Leeds Rhinos this week, and whilst he will spend next year in the academy, he is a promising youngster who will be in and around the first team set up next year, should he be needed. 

Sam Lisone is currently out of contract at the end of the season after not yet agreeing a new deal with the club. 

Second-row: 

As mentioned above, current wearers of the 11 and 12 jersey, Bentley and McDonnell, have both signed new deals for next season and, in Bentley’s case, 2027. 

Both Irish internationals, it has been very clear this season that McDonnell is the chosen favourite of the two, having started in all 16 games so far this year. 

Bentley has been in and out of the matchday 13, starting nine and being a substitute five times. He has had to compete with Morgan Gannon for the left edge spot, however his game time may improve next year with the youngster confirmed for the move down under. 

Since his NRL return in 2020, his time at Salford has seen Kallum Watkins primarily used as a second rower. However, in his seven games upon return, a positional switch to loose-forward has worked wonders for him and the Rhinos side. A versatile option to have, Watkins has become vital to Leeds in attack and defence, averaging over 90 metres and 34 tackles per game. 

Ben Littlewood, who has spent all of 2025 injured so far, made his Rhinos debut against Wigan in a 30-4 win last year. He will be on the fringes of the starting line-up, alongside Toby Warren, who is currently on a season-long loan at Salford as part of the Watkins transfer. 

Loose Forward: 

Captain Cameron Smith has been with the club since 2018, and was awarded the armband in 2024, before linking up with Ash Handley as co-captains for this season. 

One option for next year is that Watkins remains in his role at loose-forward, leaving skipper Smith on the bench. However, with the departure of Gannon, it seems the most likely choice will be that Watkins shifts back to the second row, allowing the 26-year-old to return to the starting 13 spot. 

Teenage starlet Presley Cassell is touted to be the next big thing at the Rhinos, with many seeing him as a future captain of the club. The 18-year-old has been named in Brad Arthur’s 21-man squads on multiple occasions this year, however is yet to make a first-team appearance. We expect the youngster to feature at some stage in the near future, if not this season, then almost certainly in 2026. 

Jacob Stead is another youngster, currently enjoying a good run of form in the reserves setup. He featured in the Boxing Day clash against Wakefield at the end of 2024.