Leeds Rhinos news: disappointment as Brodie Croft exit confirmed with Warrington Wolves set to pounce
Rugby league’s worst kept secret was confirmed today when Leeds Rhinos announced star stand-off Brodie Croft will leave the club at the end of this season.
A Rhinos statement said: “Croft’s management informed the club last week that he had agreed a deal for 2027 and beyond with another club and will therefore end his three seasons at the Rhinos at the completion of this season.” Croft joined Rhinos, for a substantial transfer fee, in the autumn of 2023.
The Yorkshire Evening Post revealed a week ago that Betfred Super League rivals Warrington Wolves were keen to snare Croft when his deal expires this November. Today’s announcement clears the way for them to confirm his signing.
Leeds had offered Croft a new contract and his exit is a major blow. He is the fifth member of Rhinos’ current squad to confirm his departure at the end of 2026, along with Perth-bound Harry Newman, Mikolaj Oledzki, James McDonnell and Cameron Smith, who’s heading to Wakefield Trinity.
Reacting to Croft’s decision, Rhinos coach Brad Arthur said: “We will be disappointed to lose Brodie at the end of the season. He has thrived in our team this season with the combinations we have in place and the environment we have created. I know he will want to go out on the best possible note and achieve the success he desperately wants.”
Leeds were aware there was a strong chance Croft would move on, but losing him to a Super League rival is a huge blow. Rhinos sporting director Ian Blease conceded: “Naturally this was disappointing news for us to hear from Brodie’s management. My relationship with Brodie goes back a long way, having first brought him to Super League with Salford back in 2022.
“I have been in discussions with him and his team for over six months to try and keep him at AMT Headingley. I understand from Brodie that it is not a financial decision, but the fact he wants, with three young children, to play his rugby closer to his home in the north west.
“All parties have tried to work on ways around this, but at the end of the day, Brodie has made the decision he feels is right for himself and his family and I fully respect that. Our chairman Paul and the Caddick family made a significant investment in Brodie when the club paid a large transfer fee to bring him to the Rhinos from Salford back in 2024 and I know Brodie has enjoyed his time at the club, particularly the last 18months. As a club we have put ourselves in a good position at this stage of the season and collectively we will all focus on fulfilling our potential for 2026.”
Rhinos are now in the market for an experienced stand-off. “It is an unfortunate part of professional sport that things like this have to be dealt with during the season, but as always, it also creates an opportunity for us for next season,” Blease added.
“We have a number of thoughts and options we will work through and, as always, will then make the right and timely decisions and announcements on all our future recruitment.”