Three off-contract players that Leeds Rhinos should sign for 2025

Leeds Rhinos, as well as all Super League clubs, are able to begin negotiations to sign players for 2025 from tomorrow with May 1st being one of the most important dates in the rugby league calendar.

Every side has plenty of players that aren’t yet contacted beyond the end of this year.

Therefore, we’ll be going through out-of-contract players that every side in Super League may look to sign in the upcoming window.

Leeds Rhinos are a side that have struggled this season – they started with some exciting performances, notably a victory over Catalans Dragons.

However, since then, results have soured, with many calling Rohan Smith to follow his uncle Tony in losing his job.

Here are three players we think the Rhinos should look to sign to improve for 2025.

Mike Cooper

Leeds Rhinos are a side that look exciting, with backs capable of creating magic.

However, it’s their forwards that seem to be the problem, looking weak and therefore unable to win the battle in tight games that rely on grit.

Mike Cooper, out of contract with Wigan at the end of 2024, could go some way to fixing this.

He’s incredibly experienced, with almost 300 appearances for Warrington alone, and his powerful drives through the middle of the field are exactly what the Rhinos need to start being on the right end of close games.

Wigan would be unlikely to push too hard to keep him, as they have plenty of experience in the squad, and at 35, they may see him as a player for the past – meaning Leeds could swoop, as they’ve already shown no fear in signing players aged 35 or older with the Ryan Hall acquisition.

His knee injury, keeping him out for over a month this year, showed that the Warriors are more than capable of performing without him.

His contract was only extended by a year ahead of this season – he’s not part of Wigan’s long-term plans.

Cade Cust

Capable of playing as both stand-off or hooker, Salford’s new signing has looked impressive this year since signing from Wigan Warriors.

Although Andy Ackers won’t be a priority for them to replace, looking at the top of his game currently, his versatility could help the Rhinos out no end.

Although Brodie Croft is a top player, he’s struggled in the Rhinos’ current pairing since signing from Salford.

The half-back options are also limited, with Matt Frawley and Jack Sinfield the only real natural options to play beside him.

Therefore, Cust’s ability to move into the halves could prove invaluable to Rohan Smith’s side, helping them to create chances.

There’s an option to extend his contract by a year at Salford, and he’s slotted in alongside Marc Sneyd excellently under the watchful eye of Paul Rowley.

Despite this, if the player pushed to leave, Salford may have to accept that they might not get the best out of him next year.

Could the Rhinos pick the pockets of the Red Devils again?

Paul Séguier

Out-of-contract at Catalans Dragons at the end of 2024, the prop was a key member of Catalans’ run to the Grand Final in 2023, making 23 Super League appearances.

Although he’s never made a permanent move away from France, he had a brief spell at Barrow Raiders on loan in 2019.

His stats were impressive in 2023, making 623 tackles, making 1367 metres and scoring 5 tries.

It’s no secret that Catalans have one of the best packs in Super League, and Séguier is a key member of it: he could make a real difference to the Rhinos.

Mikolaj Oledzki and Tom Holroyd are the current starting props at Headingley, but Séguier would likely be an improvement on both.

He’s one of the best props in Super League.

Prop Kieran Hudson is also only contracted for this year, as it stands.

This should be a player that Leeds Rhinos make a top priority.