leeds rhinos
Home  »    »    »  Leeds Rhinos bidding to retain Super League with new recruits

Leeds Rhinos bidding to retain Super League with new recruits

| 10.01.2016
SPORTSBOOK ODDS

Matt Haynes | January 5, 2016

Leeds Rhinos cleaned up last season, winning every competition they entered, and have sublime 7/2 odds with Coral to win the Grand Final once more in 2016.

Quality replacements

With half of their old guard retiring, including influential captain Kevin Sinfield, warrior Jamie Peacock and the irrepressible Kylie Leuluai, the Rhinos have embarked on a strategic recruitment programme in the off-season, which has seen them bring in three players with serious pedigree who can have a great effect on the new Super League campaign.

Rugby League - First Utility Super League - Hull FC v Leeds Rhinos - KC Stadium

NRL duo, prop Keith Galloway and hooker Beau Falloon have arrived from down under, with both impressing in the Boxing Day clash against Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, with the latter giving so much that he suffered concussion twice.

Ferres force

Brett Ferres, recently arrived from Huddersfield Giants, is somewhat of a coup. His former club placed him on the transfer list after misconduct, and whether this was tactical to scare the player, it could well be a move that significantly backfires.

The 29-year-old second rower is as good a replacement for Peacock that the Rhinos will find and was the driving force behind England’s Tri-Nations win over New Zealand in the autumn.

Rugby League - International Test Match - England v France - Leigh Sports Village

On signing for the club, Ferres highlighted his delight at becoming a Rhinos player: “I would like to thank Gary Hetherington and Brian McDermott for making this move possible,” he said.

“The Rhinos are a fantastic organisation and I am looking forward to being part of the squad next season.

“The last year has seen plenty of ups and downs for me however this move gives me an opportunity to finally look forward to the future with confidence and be part of something special here at the Rhinos.”

Young Rhinos can continue to impress

Last campaign saw the emergence of a number of players from the youth team who took to first team duties like seasoned professionals.

Winger Ash Handley stormed onto the scene, becoming a regular source of tries, while Josh Walters and Jordan Lilley are both promising players.

Rugby League - Magic Weekend - Leeds Rhinos v Wigan Warriors - St James' Park

It is highly anticipated that the remaining ‘old guard’, Danny McGuire and Rob Burrow could both announce their retirement soon, though in Kallum Watkins, Ryan Hall, Adam Cuthbertson, Zak Hardaker and Joel Moon, the Rhinos have more than enough to fill the void, with Challenge Cup final hero Tom Briscoe also a prodigious prospect.

Related

Check out our extensive rugby league archive.

Bet Now

«
»

Author

Matt Haynes

A long-suffering Leeds fan, Matt studied Sports Journalism at university, and has a plethora of multi-industry experience. Having worked on behalf of multiple hedge funds and top-tier investment banks in executive search, he has also had a stint with the BBC and the Press Association. Outside of work, he pursues entrepreneurial activities and likes to keep fit.
Although he has interviewed current England manager Roy Hodgson as well as Rafa Benitez and a number of other names, he is honoured to have spent time in the company of Gordon Banks. Matt enjoys cultivating long-lasting professional and personal relationships, is solution orientated, and supports Coral’s sports content provision.