Leeds Rhinos, Castleford Tigers, Warrington Wolves and Bradford Bulls snap up young East Leeds stars

Virtually an entire team from the East Leeds community club have been signed on scholarships at Betfred Super League and Championship sides.
The East Leeds under-14s/15s team and coaches Andy Corbett and Jamaine Wray.The East Leeds under-14s/15s team and coaches Andy Corbett and Jamaine Wray.
The East Leeds under-14s/15s team and coaches Andy Corbett and Jamaine Wray.

Leeds Rhinos have recruited five of the East Leeds youngsters who, as under-13s, won the BARLA Yorkshire Cup, Yorkshire Juniors Challenge Cup, Yorkshire Juniors Division One and Leeds and District Cup during an unbeaten season.

They also won the young club/team participation prize in the latest Leeds Sports Awards.

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Two of the players have gone to Castleford Tigers and three each are at Warrington Wolves and Bradford Bulls.

The East Leeds youngsters, plus coach Jamaine Wray, meet Rhinos legend Kevin Sinfield at the Leeds Sports Awards.The East Leeds youngsters, plus coach Jamaine Wray, meet Rhinos legend Kevin Sinfield at the Leeds Sports Awards.
The East Leeds youngsters, plus coach Jamaine Wray, meet Rhinos legend Kevin Sinfield at the Leeds Sports Awards.

As well as scholarship training, they will remain with East Leeds until under-16 level when they could join a professional club’s academy.

The team are coached by Andy Corbett, alongside former Hunslet, York City Knights and Keighley Cougars player Jamaine Wray.

Simon Barratt, whose son Lewis is on Warrington’s scholarship, said: “East Leeds are a successful, historic club, but it has been a while since they have had a team with so many lads getting scholarships.

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“Quite a lot of them - at least half a dozen, I would say - had more than one option, then they whittled it down to who they thought was the best fit.”

The team, now at under-15 level, have not played since March because of coronavirus.

Barratt said: “It has been hard.

“As a club and game, quite a few have dropped out through not playing. It has been a case of clubs working their hardest to keep lads interested.”

The East Leeds players now on scholarship at professional clubs are: Sonny Pattinson (centre), Mason Corbett (hooker), Bobby Hartley-Freer (prop), David Benson (second-row), Mark Nelson (second-row) - all at Leeds Rhinos; Jack Moxon (centre) - Castleford Tigers;

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Cai Taylor-Wray (full-back), Jack Ward (stand-off), Lewis Barratt (loose-forward) - all Warrington Wolves; Connor Sayner (winger), Cobie Wainhouse (prop), Joe Ward – second-row/loose-forward) - all Bradford Bulls. Stand-off Josh Whittingham was an East Leeds player at the time he joined Castleford’s scholarship, but is now with Lock Lane.

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