Talks have taken place about a ‘potential partnership’ between Leeds Rhinos and neighbours Hunslet RLFC.

Hunslet, who are 13th in the second-tier Betfred Championship, insist they would retain their identity and squad, but could bring in players from Rhinos on loan and share resources off the field. Speaking on The Parksiders Podcast, Hunslet chief executive Neil Hampshire said details have yet to be agreed, but he insisted it - and similar arrangements between other clubs - “needs to happen” to prevent lower league sides going out of business.

Hampshire revealed: “We have been in talks with Leeds since January about a potential partnership and how we can get a better player pathway between the two clubs to support that. Super League clubs are in discussions around whether they retain a reserve league for next year or whether they partner with Championship clubs.

“There’ll be different levels of partnership. Some will be like Newcastle [and York Knights], where it’ll almost be a full takeover. Ours, if we did go in with the Rhinos, would be on a much more amicable partnership basis.”

Hunslet's Harvey Hallas, a Leeds Rhinos academy graduate, takes to the field at South Leeds Stadium earlier this season. Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com.

placeholder image — Hunslet's Harvey Hallas, a Leeds Rhinos academy graduate, takes to the field at South Leeds Stadium earlier this season. Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com.

Rhinos have had dual-registration agreements in the past with lower division clubs including Hunslet, Featherstone Rovers and London Broncos. Those have since been replaced across the game by one-week loans.

Several Super League players have turned out for Hunslet on that basis this year, among them Rhinos’ Riley Lumb, Ned McCormack, Zak Lloyd, Presley Cassell, Tom Nicholson-Watton and Ben Littlewood. Littlewood is currently injured, but the others are in Rhinos’ 21-man squad for tomorrow’s (Thursday) clash with Leigh Leopards at AMT Headingley. Marcus Qareqare, Joe Butterfield and Joe Diskin, who train with Rhinos’ first team squad but are yet to make their debut – have also represented the Parksiders.

Hampshire stressed: “We would keep our identity, we would keep our players, but we would want some on season-long loans as well as taking one or two on a flexible basis. What you’ve got to have in this sport is reality and the reality is the money is in Super League.

Presley Cassell, seen in action for Leeds Rhinos against Toulouse Olympique, played on loan with Hunslet earlier this season. Picture by Steve Riding.

“If you’ve got a situation where the best talent is all in there, yet only 17 can play every week, then realistically clubs like the Rhinos have maybe got 11, 12 that could be playing first team regularly, not playing. How are you going to give them an opportunity to play?”

He added: “The logistics around it, what happens to the players we’ve got, what happens to the players in the academies, all that kind of stuff has to be worked through. But it needs to happen, in terms of stopping us haemorrhaging clubs by them just having to go because they have got no backing and no support.”

The Hunslet chief reckons there will be benefits for both outfits off the field as well as on it. “We want to work together on lots of different levels,” he stated. “There’ll be marketing, commercial opportunities, all that kind of stuff. Can we advertise stuff on their website, can they advertise stuff on ours, can we sell joint tickets, season tickets? That kind of thing.”