Leeds Rhinos star confirms contract talks, outlines England ambition & celebrates squad number boost
A key Leeds Rhinos player has confirmed he is in talks about a new contract.
Hooker Jarrod O’Connor has 124 Rhinos appearances to his name, including 27 last season when he was Betfred Super League’s top tackler, with 1,044. He moved up from 14 to nine when Leeds’ 2026 squad numbers were announced last week, but is entering the final year of his current deal.
“We’re not in a rush,” Connor, 24, said of contract negotiations. “Obviously it’s the best Super League club to be at; it’s just talking to the club and not rushing into it, but [we are] getting there.”
O’Connor also outlined his England ambitions ahead of the World Cup, to be played next autumn in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea. “I’ll be pushing myself to get into that team,” he insisted.
“I am obviously aiming to be the best nine in Super League, which is a big aim of mine for this year - and getting into that World Cup squad. For me, I think it can be achievable. If the team’s playing well that will help me a lot; I think the players around me will make it possible.”
O’Connor is one of a handful of experienced players named in Rhinos’ squad for the Wetherby Whaler Festive Challenge at home to Wakefield Trinity on Boxing Day, when he will wear the nine jersey for the first time. “I was quite happy with it,” he said of his move into Rhinos’ top-13 for the first time. “I felt like, after last season, I’ve earned it and it’s a good positive going into next year.”
Friday is Leeds’ first opportunity to put what they have worked on at training into practice. O’Connor reflected: “The first half of pre-season is done now and I feel like we are building really well. Personally and as a team, we are looking a bit sharper having had another pre-season under Brad Arthur, which is only going to benefit us going into next year.”
Rhinos spent last week in Tenerife on a warm-weather training camp, which included an opposed training match against Betfred Super League rivals Huddersfield Giants. Reflecting on the week away, O’Connor said: “It was really good.
“It was probably more about us all spending time together; it was probably a bit of a down week, other than one of the days when we had a good session against Huddersfield. That was mainly the Boxing Day squad and it was good to see where we are up to.
“I think it helped us gel and get a bit more game ready for this week. It’s always exciting to play on Boxing Day, getting that first hit-out. Playing with the new lads is exciting as well and some of the young lads coming through. We can’t wait to get out there to test ourselves.”
Teenager George Brown is set to start at scrum-half and O’Connor has high hopes for the youngster. “He is killing it at the minute,” he said. “I am sure he will be a big part of the game this week. He did really well last year when he came on and I think he’ll get a lot more minutes this year, which will be exciting. There’s that many of them coming through now, it is an exciting time.”