Leeds Rhinos news: 4 player departures announced as Jake Connor, Lachie Miller win top awards
Leeds Rhinos announced the departure of four first team squad members as Jake Connor, Lachie Miller and Presley Cassell were honoured at the club’s annual awards ceremony.
Presentations were made to Ethan Clark-Wood, Chris Hankinson, Joe Shorrocks and Jack Smith, as well as Sam Lisone and Morgan Gannon whose exit had already been announced.
Australian outside-back Clark-Wood joined Rhinos at the end of pre-season on a one-season deal and made a single first team appearance, away to Catalans Dragons in March. He was a regular in the reserves, but suffered a season-ending shoulder injury at training two months ago.
Loose-forward Shorrocks, who is on loan from Salford Red Devils, made his debut in Rhinos’ win at Hull FC three weeks ago, but picked up a two-match suspension. He could come into contention for Friday’s regular-season finale at Wigan Warriors and Leeds’ play-off campaign.
Winger Hankinson has made six consecutive appearances since joining Rhinos from Salford last month on a short-term deal. Smith, an outside-back who spent much of this year on loan at London Broncos, did not feature in Rhinos' first team.
Gannon will join NRL club New Zealand Warriors in pre-season on a three-year deal, while Lisone is heading for Hull FC. Asked what he would miss about Rhinos, Lisone quipped: “The boys and the South Stand - I just hope you don’t chant ‘you fat b!”£$%^’ at me next season.”
Half-back Connor capped a stellar first season with Leeds when he collected the Rob Burrow CBE trophy as player of the year. The winner is decided by Rhinos’ coaching staff who vote after every game. Receiving his prize, Connor - who joined Leeds in pre-season from Huddersfield Giants - said: “It is a massive honour, Rob was a special player. I love it here, I love being around the place. This team and club has got me playing with a smile on my face.”
Miller received the Roy Berwick fans' player of the year award and his touchdown at Hull KR in July was voted try of the season. Runner-up, just 24 votes behind, was Ebony Stead against Warrington Wolves in Women's Super League.
Cassell completed a hat-trick when he was named Bev Risman young player of the year. The award is open to academy graduates, aged under 21 at the start of the season, who have made an impact in the men’s or women’s first team. Cassell was scholarship player of the year in 2023 and won last season's academy honour.
Australian half-back Mel Howard was the women’s player of the year, stand-off George Brown took the academy award and the women’s under-18s honour went to utility-back Amelia Hirst. England international Nathan Collins was wheelchair player of the year, the physical disability award went to Dan Bell and Debbie Kennedy was the learning disability winner.
Chief executive Gary Hetherington, who will step down next month after 29 years, received a standing ovation when he was recognised as the Rhinos teammate of the year. The departure was also announced of Hetherington’s long-serving personal assistant Julie Bush and head of customer services Sian Jones, who is joining Hull FC. A presentation was made to former Roy Dickinson, a former player of the 1970s and 80s. He is emigrating to Australia.