Leeds Rhinos: Burrow reveals youth roster shake-up

Players moving up from the under-16s are eligible to spend three years in the academy before either being released or offered a senior contract.

Featherstone Rovers have already signed winger Dakota Whylie, full-back Kiedan Hartley and prop Spencer Darley for 2019.

Burrow revealed back-rower James Barraclough, full-back/stand-off Reece Chapman-Smith and hooker Harvey Whiteley are being released and have yet to find a new club.

Barraclough made his open-age debut on loan for Featherstone in their 42-10 Betfred Championship Shield win over Leigh Centurions last Sunday.

Whiteley, who works for Rhinos’ foundation, also has first-team experience, coming off the bench in Leeds’ 34-0 Super League defeat at Wigan Warriors last year.

Prop Muizz Mustapha, who also played on loan for Rovers last weekend, will remain at Rhinos next year along with loose-forward Loui McConnell.

Forwards Tyler Dupree, Owen Trout, Tom Holroyd and Corey Johnson will train with the first team in 2019, but remain part of Burrow’s academy side.

Dupree was a try scorer on loan for Rovers last weekend.

Holroyd made one substitute appearance for Leeds this year and Trout was awarded a squad number, but did not feature.

Johnson is Leeds’ academy player of the year.

Centre Harry Newman, who made three first-team appearances for Rhinos this year and also starred on dual-registration with Rovers, remains academy-qualified, but is part of the first-team squad.