Leeds Rhinos steeled for Brodie Croft exit as Warrington Wolves close in: here's what happens now
Leeds Rhinos are steeling themselves for the loss of prized asset Brodie Croft, with the player’s departure expected to be confirmed as early as next week.
As revealed by the Yorkshire Evening Post on Monday, Betfred Super League rivals Warrington Wolves have targeted stand-off Croft as a replacement for England captain George Williams when he joins Brisbane-based NRL club Dolphins next year. Leeds have offered the Australian, whose contract ends this autumn, a new deal, but he is now understood to be on the verge of accepting a big-money offer from Warrington.
There has been no comment from Rhinos who are focusing on Friday’s huge game at Wigan Warriors and anxious to avoid any disruption before then. But with Croft’s likely departure now public knowledge they will be keen to put the speculation to bed as quickly as possible.
If and when a deal is done, the convention will be for Leeds to announce his exit, paving the way for Warrington to confirm the signing. Rhinos will clearly be disappointed, but not shocked, to lose the former Man of Steel, who has scored 13 tries in just nine games this year and is Super League player of the year for April. The ex-Melbourne Storm and Brisbane Broncos man, who moved to AMT Headingley from Salford Red Devils ahead of the 2024 season, has spoken of his love for Leeds, but made no secret of his desire for a return to the southern hemisphere competition.
Rhinos have, therefore, been putting contingency plans in place, but losing him to a close rival is a bitter pill. Bringing in an experienced stand-off will now become a priority for sporting director Ian Blease.
Jack Bird and Chris Hankinson, who is out of contract this year but has an option for 2027, can both step into the halves and Ethan O’Neill played at scrum-half in this year’s Challenge Cup win at Widnes Vikings. Rhinos also have high hopes for teenage stand-off George Brown. He did well at the start of this season and Leeds have no fears over using Brown - who is currently sidelined with a knee injury - when required, but accept that at 19 and with only four senior games under his belt, he isn’t yet ready to be first-choice.
Croft’s defection is likely to provoke a backlash from fans, particularly with Harry Newman, Mikolaj Oledzki and James McDonnell on their way to Perth Bears and Cameron Smith having signed for Wakefield Trinity next year. A signing or two would go some way to appeasing that.
The players leaving are doing so for different reasons and the exodus does not appear to be a sign of major problems in the camp. Lachie Miller, Ash Handley, Croft’s half-back partner Jake Connor, Jarrod O’Connor, Keenan Palasia and Cooper Jenkins are among the first-choice players who have extended their stay at the club in the past few months.
It will, though, add more urgency to Leeds’ coaching situation. Brad Arthur is on a rolling contract and will reveal at the end of next month whether he is staying at the club in 2027. With some key positions to fill, Rhinos will want to have their coach in place as quickly as possible.