Rumour Mill: Leeds in for ex-St Helens boss, Hull FC swoop for Salford star & Warrington centre to leave

The Super League season is over halfway done and sides have been able to speak to players about securing their signatures for several weeks now – the rumour mill is on the cusp of going into overdrive.

With that in mind and to keep you as up-to-date as possible, here’s a round-up of the biggest news from the rugby league Rumour Mill this week.

Super League Quiz: How many of these former players can you name?

Leeds Rhinos’ head coach search hots up

Leeds Rhinos new Sporting Director Ian Blease, in charge of finding a new head coach, has provided a promising update on their search for a successor to Rohan Smith.

Speaking to the Yorkshire Evening Post, Blease said: “I am working through the candidates, that’s what I have been doing since last week.

“We’ve had some high-calibre candidates that I am working through and we’ll be getting to the next stage [in the coming] week.”

He also said there would was interest in the role from both the UK and overseas, with a possibility for someone to come over from Australia.

Sky Sports Jon Wilkin has suggested some options who may be in that next stage Blease speaks of – Justin Holbrook, who he said “could do everything that they wanted him to do and would be an exquisite choice.”

Several assistant coaches from the UK and Australia were also mentioned by Wilkin. Castleford’s Danny McGuire, St. George’s Dean Young and Manly’s Chad Randall are all in the running according to the Sky Sports pundit.

Rodrick Tai to head elsewhere?

According to Love Rugby League, Warrington Wolves centre Rodrick Tai is likely to be heading away from the club at the end of the season.

He only joined ahead of this season, but LRL have reported that the Wolves haven’t taken up their option to extend the deal beyond this season.

Tai has made seven appearances this Super League season since joining from Queensland Cup side PNG Hunters.

He also featured in the Challenge Cup final defeat to Wigan Warriors.

Tai has mostly played in the centre this year, but in his game at wing, against Salford Red Devils, he scored two tries.

Now, the 25-year-old Papua New Guinean will seemingly have to look elsewhere, despite appearing in all of the Wire’s last six games.

Super League target to stay in Oz?

Jack de Belin, a forward for St. George Illawarra Dragons, has been linked with a number of Super League clubs by the rumour mill – mostly Leigh Leopards.

However, there’s a new twist to the tale.

Only contracted with St George Illawarra until the end of this year, the former State of Origin man can play as a loose-forward and as a prop.

As well as links with Leigh Leopards, he has also received offers from other clubs.

Despite this, according to Wide World of Sports, the 33-year-old has received interest from South Sydney Rabbitohs.

Souths had reportedly been interested earlier in the year before the interest cooled off due to salary cap problems.

Now, they seem to be back in the market for the Papua New Guinea international, who has made over 200 NRL appearances.

It therefore seems that if English clubs are genuinely interested in signing him, they’ll be up against one of the world’s biggest clubs in the race for his signature.

Newcastle Knights duo to Super League?

Two NRL players could be on the radar of several Super League clubs, after Newcastle Knights have given them permission to leave the club.

The Knights are looking to make changes to the roster particularly because they want to free up salary cap space.

According to News Corp, they’re now also looking to let two more players leave – long-time player and captain Jayden Brailey, and forward Jack Hetherington.

Hetherington, who only joined the side for this season, hasn’t started any games, instead making 12 appearances from the bench.

In addition, Jayden Brailey has struggled since his ACL injury, which caused him to miss most of the 2023 season.

He had started most games this year as hooker, but has instead been named on the bench for the last three games.

These departures could open up a potential signing for Super League sides, with very few high-quality Super League names left available to sign for 2025.

Cade Cust to join Hull FC?

According to Love Rugby League, Hull FC could make the most of Cade Cust’s extension option not yet being triggered by Salford Red Devils.

The half-back is currently injured, but the Red Devils has faired well without him – suggesting his future could be elsewhere.

After already signing Jordan Abdull, and having Jake Trueman on the books, it seems that he wouldn’t be a starting option, necessarily.

However, it seems that a deal is close to being done: the rumour mill says former Wigan Warriors man may be on his way to Hull.

Hull FC’s head coach for next year, John Cartwright, has also got the benefit of previously working with Cust, during their time at Manly Sea Eagles in NRL.

Cust has tasted success in England already, as he played in a Challenge Cup final victory in 2022, but didn’t play in the Grand Final Wigan won last year.