Tributes paid to Leeds Rhinos treble-winner Brad Singleton ahead of testimonial game at Castleford Tigers

Leeds will send a reserve side to OneBore Stadium on Sunday as Singleton celebrates 15 years at the top level of rugby league. Rhinos’ Kallum Watkins has played more games alongside Singleton than anyone else - having been his teammate at two Betfred Super League clubs - and hailed the 33-year-old’s “amazing career”.

Watkins said: “I spent a lot of time with him at Leeds and I also had a lot of time with him at Salford, which was great as well. We have created so many memories and it has been a privilege to play with him and be part of his career. Hopefully he gets a really good turnout on Sunday. I will be there supporting him and I hope it’s a good event and he gets the support he deserves.”

Having come through Rhinos’ academy system, Singleton made the first of his 178 appearances for them in March, 2011. He moved to Toronto Wolfpack in 2019 and joined Wigan Warriors the following year. Having been part of Rhinos’ treble success in 2015 and won another Grand Final two years later, he helped Wigan to top spot in Super League in his first season there and got his hands on the Challenge Cup again in 2022. He reunited with Watkins at Salford in 2023 and linked up with Tigers midway through last season, on a contract until the end of 2026.

Singleton’s testimonial was awarded by the RFL for services to the sport and Watkins added: “He has worked extremely hard at his game. He was pushed really hard when he was playing here; there’s a high expectation when you come into a good group like that and he added his own qualities and made the most of that situation. He has been part of different environments as well, he was successful at Wigan, winning the Challenge Cup and league leaders, so it’s pretty cool to celebrate a player like Brad who has always given his best.”

Rhinos winger Ryan Hall also paid tribute to his former teammate. He said: “He has challenged himself all the way along. It has not been an easy route for Singo, he came down from Cumbria and relocated here - he lived with [then-academy manager] Bob Pickles when he first started and had to throw himself into becoming a Leeds Rhinos player.

“He did that and after he left us he has gone on to other clubs and achieved things there as well, so good on him. He is still going - he’s a tough Cumbrian so I am not surprised he’s still going. I hope the fans turn out for him on Sunday.”