Leigh Leopards star Owen Trout has seemingly had his future confirmed, and it’s not good news for Leopards fans.
Reports from down under have emerged today [Tuesday] stating that the England international has signed a two-year deal to join NRL side Cronulla Sharks for 2027.
Trout is out of contract at the end of the season, with his future being a huge talking point of the Super League off-season.
The prop-turned-back-row started his career at Leeds Rhinos, before moving to Huddersfield Giants as part of a swap deal for Kruise Leeming.
He spent four seasons at the Accu Stadium, and reached the Challenge Cup Final in 2022, though the side were beaten by Wigan Warriors in the final few minutes of the match.
In 2024, he joined Leigh on a three-year deal, and has since established himself as one of Super League’s top forwards.
Know your Super League? Serious About Rugby League have a Fantasy Super League comp. Join it now and compete against our writers. PIN: 12433 Password: SARL2026
Leigh Leopards star secures NRL contract for 2027
Those performances have now landed him a deal in the NRL, as he is set to become the latest English player to make the move to the Australian competition – following in the footsteps of Harry Newman, Morgan Gannon and James McDonnell.
Should he sign, he would be the first Englishman that Cronulla have signed in almost 50 years, and would be a damaging blow for the Leopards pack.
The club are also set to lose Robbie Mulhern at the end of the season, with his future reportedly seeing him move to Castleford Tigers.
They have secured Umyla Hanley for the next few seasons, but losing both Trout and Mulhern would have a sizeable impact on the squad, and they will need to make sure they replace them adequately.
At 26, forwards like Trout tend to be entering their prime, and after excelling in the UK competition, he has more than earned his shot at the NRL.
