Wigan Warriors explain departure as prop joins Leeds Rhinos

The Leeds Rhinos’ season continues to lurch from one crisis to another, as they prepare to host the Leigh Leopards at Headingley on Friday night. The game is now a must-win fixture for the Rhinos, following their abject performance in defeat away against Hull FC at the weekend. 

In the aftermath of the game, the Rhinos have come in for major criticism from fans and pundits alike, with Sky Sports pundit, Jon Wilkin, branding their pack as “soft” and suggesting that he would like to play against them.

With a number of key players ruled out of the Rhinos’ upcoming fixture against Leigh with concussion-related symptoms, the Rhinos have been forced to enter the loan market, by bringing in a forward from Super League rivals, Wigan Warriors, on a four-week loan deal. The Rhinos’ new signing goes straight into their squad to face the Leopards on Friday night.

Now, Wigan have released a statement explaining the motivation behind the move.

Wigan Warriors explain prop’s move to Leeds Rhinos

Following the confirmation of Eseh’s four-week loan move, Wigan’s Transition Coach has spoken to clarify the reasining behind Eseh’s move to the Rhinos. Eseh has previously spent time on loan at the Castleford Tigers this season, having joined Wigan from Wakefield Trinity in the off-season.

Speaking in an official statement from Wigan, Duffy said:

“This is another fantastic opportunity for Sam to get some invaluable minutes on the pitch.

“He will benefit from playing some back-to-back games that will stand him in good stead for the remainder of the season.”

Eseh goes straight into Leeds’ 21-man squad for Friday’s crunch clash against the Leigh Leopards. The Rhinos will be hoping to get their season back on track after their unexpected defeat against Hull at the weekend.

Victory at Headingley for the Leopards would bring them within one point of the Rhinos in their ongoing hunt for the playoff places. Leeds go into the game two points behind the Catalans Dragons in sixth place but with a vastly inferior points difference.

Defeat could see them slip four points behind the Dragons, who host eighth-placed Huddersfield Giants on Saturday evening at the Stade Gilbert Brutus.