'A little bit of flexibility': Gary Hetherington talks what now for Leeds Rhinos after Kruise Leeming exit
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Hetherington says the hooker’s departure has given Rhinos some flexibility on their salary cap, but played down the prospects of a replacement signing.
Leeming joined the NRL side after being released from his Rhinos contract, which was due to expire at the end of next season.
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Hide AdThe 27-year-old has penned a deal until the end of 2024 and could return to Betfred Super League next year - with St Helens and Warrington Wolves being possible destinations - if his stay in Australia doesn’t work out.
“Kruise requested a release and we agreed to it,” Hetherington said. “Kruise has been a good servant to the club, it’s something he wanted to do and something Rohan [Smith, Rhinos’ coach] was comfortable with, so the club agreed to that request.”
Hetherington said Rhinos could have held out for a fee, but added: “We agreed to the release in the knowledge it is often difficult for a player to move during the season because most clubs are spent up and fixed up as well. That was taken into consideration.”
Leeming joined Rhinos from Huddersfield Giants, who Leeds play at Headingley on Sunday, before the 2020 Betfred Super League season.
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Hide AdHe was appointed captain two years later, by then-coach Richard Agar, but suffered a foot injury midway through the campaign and was dropped to the bench for Rhinos’ play-off campaign and the Grand Final.
Smith declined to appoint a full-time captain for 2023 and, after Leeming started the first two games this term, he again lost his place to rising star Jarrod O’Connor and made his transfer request two weeks later.