Featherstone Rovers sign Leeds Rhinos half-back as veteran Hunslet full-back pens contract extension

A product of the Leeds Rhinos academy, Spence featured for and against Rovers in the 2020 pre-season, featuring in James Webster’s side in a pre-season friendly against York City Knights.

The 20-year-old has worked his way through the ranks at Headingley, winning five Leeds and District Cups at the Leeds Junior Club and was part of the Rhinos’ Academy Grand Final side that faced Wigan Warriors in 2018. And he said: “I’m really happy to have signed for Featherstone Rovers next year and I can’t wait to get going. It’s been a long time coming and I’m looking forward to starting pre-season and getting back on the training field.1.”

Football manager Steve Gill added: “Harvey is a good talker and organiser with a great kicking game. We believe he will develop nicely.”

Meanwhile, full-back Jimmy Watson has agreed a new one-year deal with Hunslet.

Watson, who has been something of a talisman at the South Leeds Stadium for the last seven seasons is likely to play a big role as Gary Thornton’s side, who were top of the table when the Covid-19 lockdown struck.

Watson, 30, said: “We’d done so well before the season was cancelled. We’d been flying in our friendlies, had won our league games and were looking forward to testing ourselves in some tough-looking fixtures.”

He added: “It was frustrating for that to end because we had a good mix of experience and youth, with some young, fresh talented faces around to keep us older lads on our toes.

“But Gary Thornton’s rebuilding well, and there’s no reason why we shouldn’t be pushing hard for promotion when action resumes.”

Thornton said: “Jimmy is Hunslet through and through, and an important part of our club, so I’m really happy he’s re-signed.

“He has been a big fans’ favourite since his arrival back in 2013, and his loyalty to the cause cannot be faulted.

“Jimmy is a very popular member of the group, and can now be counted as one of our more experienced players. I’m looking forward to seeing him develop his partnership with Dom Brambani and Simon Brown as an attacking force, as we started to see some promising stuff last season before the campaign was curtailed.

“His is another important signing in getting the spine of the team sorted.”