Leeds Rhinos news: 10 teenagers sign 1st professional contract including recruit from Warrington Wolves

The 10 youngsters will move up into Rhinos’ under-18 academy squad from next season. Eight have been brought through Leeds’ scholarship programme and two join from other clubs.

Forward Dillon Eshun (from the Hunslet ARLFC community club), centre Joe Gill (Garforth Tigers) winger Alfie Quinn (Garforth), centre Noah Sheriffe (Oulton Raiders), winger Wade Smith (Queensbury) and prop Ben Smith (Dewsbury Moor) spent the past two seasons in Rhinos’ under-16s. Forwards Kazimierz Ciuraj-Davison and Bamidele Olasode - who are part of the rugby programme at the independent Hill House School in Doncaster and played community rugby league at Lock Lane - were identified by the club’s talent identification staff midway through the current campaign.

In addition, hooker Harvey Hinchcliffe (Shaw Cross Sharks) and second-rower Ben Longstaff (Oulton Raiders) have signed for Rhinos from the scholarship systems at Huddersfield Giants and Warrington Wolves respectively. The players will be paraded at half-time of tomorrow’s (Thursday) home Betfred Super League showdown with Leigh Leopards.

Rhinos head of youth Darren Higgins said: “It’s fantastic to see these lads sign their first professional contracts here at the club. It’s a great achievement and follows two years of hard work and commitment to our scholarship programme.

“The players have not only demonstrated both talent and further potential during the last two years, but more importantly the character and behaviours required to progress further. This is not only a proud moment for each player and their family, but also the schools, community club coaches and scholarship staff who have all played their part in helping each player reach this stage.”

He added: “It’s great to welcome Ben and Harvey to be part of our squad for next year too. A lot of time has been spent observing them play in the last six months, both at community level and for their scholarship club and we are excited for them to be joining us.”

Transition coach Chev Walker said: “It’s a pleasure and a privilege that we get to build relationships every year with new players and teach them to play the way we want them to play and teach them our DNA. I’m really excited.

“We’ve got a couple of players coming from outside the club, which is not the norm for us, but we felt like it was necessary this year. It’s a great opportunity to meet people that have been in different systems and, as young as they are, we might actually learn something from them to further develop our players too.”

Explaining his move to Rhinos, Woodhouse Grove School pupil Longstaff said: “I really enjoyed it at Warrington. It was a good two years and a big commitment to travel over from Leeds. It has ended up being a really good opportunity, leaving to go to Leeds and I’m looking forward to making sure that opportunity is taken to hopefully build into a Super League player.

“I thought Leeds was the right club to join. I think as an individual I could really thrive here and end up working my way up the ranks.”