Leeds Rhinos rookie Presley Cassell's loan move explained as coach says 'it's tough in the middle'
Teenage star Presley Cassell’s loan move to Hunslet RLFC has been explained by Leeds Rhinos coach Brad Arthur.
The 19-year-old forward played in Rhinos’ first two competitive games this season, but hasn’t featured during the past couple and isn’t in the squad for tomorrow’s (Sunday) home derby with Castleford Tigers. Instead, he will feature for the Parksiders at Widnes Vikings in the Betfred Championship, along with club mates Ben Littlewood and Tom Nicholson-Watton.
Cassell, who made his senior debut in 2025, is regarded as one of the European game’s most exciting young prospects, but didn’t travel to Las Vegas with the first team squad last week. Revealing the reason for his stint at Hunslet, Arthur said: “There’s a couple of things physically he needed to work on.
“His best footy is still a long, long way from where he is now - you’ve got to remember he is young and middle’s a tough spot. He burst on the scene last year and it was always going to be harder this year. There’s a couple of things, which he is aware of, that he needs to tidy up physically.”
Littlewood, 21, was a substitute in the win against Hull KR seven days ago while 23-year-old Nicholson-Watton made the trip to Nevada, but didn’t feature in the matchday 17. With Mikolaj Oledzki returning to the squad for tomorrow, after a rib injury, Leeds have a fully-fit pack and Arthur feels it’s important the rookies get regular rugby.
The reserves play only once every fortnight and Arthur added: “Those guys need to get continuous footy and get minutes. It’s about us chasing some minutes for them. It [the loan] is for a game; we’ll do things a week at a time and see where our squad’s at, but those guys need to get some time into them. Next week we’ve got a reserve grade game, but who knows what happens this week?”
Hunslet have Keelan Foster and Kevin Larroyer on their long-term casualty list, Ethan O’Hanlon is suspended and there’s a fitness doubt over Mo Agoro. That has left their squad - already depleted by the retirement of Coby Nichol and Matty Dawson-Jones, plus Bailey Aldridge’s departure to Australia - down to the bare bones.
They have also brought in Matty Laidlaw on a temporary deal from Hull FC and coach Kyle Trout said: “To be honest, I’m not a fan of short-term loans, but needs must. We only have 16 bodies and we need depth.
“I’ve played with Matty and he’s a quality player, while the Rhinos lads have bags of energy and have played in a good system. Also, they are local lads and are keen to turn out for Hunslet.”