Leeds Rhinos are in talks with Ryan Hall and Matt Lodge and wanted to keep departing centre Ned McCormack, coach Brad Arthur has revealed.

McCormack, 21, is coming out of contract and will join Betfred Super League rivals Wakefield Trinity next season on a three-year deal. That leaves veteran winger Hall and recent signing Lodge as the only members of the squad whose future is yet to be decided.

Hall, 38, returned to Leeds from Hull KR ahead of last season, having previously played for the club from 2007-2018. His terms expire this autumn and the Yorkshire Evening Post can reveal he has been offered a role at the club when he decides to hang up his boots.

Despite the signing of Australian centre/winger Nick Cotric from Catalans Dragons, another year on the playing staff is also an option. Speaking at his press conference today (Wednesday) ahead of Friday’s visit of Hull FC, Arthur confirmed: “Bleasey [sporting director Ian Blease] is just working through some details with him. That should be sorted soon enough, I would say.”

Veteran Leeds Rhinos winger Ryan Hall has not yet decided whether he'll play on next year. Picture by Paul Currie/SWpix.com.

placeholder image — Veteran Leeds Rhinos winger Ryan Hall has not yet decided whether he'll play on next year. Picture by Paul Currie/SWpix.com.

Asked if he feels Hall could do another year, the coach said: “Hally does. Obviously it’s hard to keep doing it week-in, week-out as you get older, but he’s doing a good job for us and feels like he can keep doing it.

“He’s making some changes to his shape, which will help. These sort of decisions, I think, are best left to the player. The only conversations I’ve had with Hally are that he needs to make the decision on when he’s ready to give it away, not me or Bleasey.

“That needs to be on him. He can’t be forcing us into the decision either - he needs to know when the time is right.”

Australian forward Matt Lodge is in talks with Leeds Rhinos about remaining at the club. Picture by Matthew Merrick/SWpix.com.

Arthur insisted he can’t guarantee Hall - or anyone else - a regular place in the starting lineup for 2027. He said: “I’ve got no idea what happens between now and next year.

“What I do know is we are going to have another good, strong squad and competition for spots is going to be healthy. We’ve got pre-season training, then a couple of trial matches and form - I am not making any guarantees for anyone for next year.”

Australian prop Lodge joined Leeds from North Queensland Cowboys last month on terms until the end of this season. He has made three appearances so far, all as a substitute and is also speaking to the club about his future.

“Bleasey is talking to him,” Arthur said of the 31-year-old. “As far as I know, he likes the club and the area; it’s just whether he wants to commit to staying in Super League. There have been consistent conversations between him and Bleasey.”

Leeds Rhinos' Ned McCormack will join Wakefield Trinity next season. Picture by Olly Hassell/SWpix.com.

Of McCormack’s departure to Wakefield, Arthur admitted: “We would have liked to have kept him, but obviously their offer is better and they have offered him more opportunity.

“It is what it is, we’ve got lots of good young guys coming through and unfortunately can’t make promises to everyone we can’t keep. There was an opportunity for him to stay and he thinks that [joining Trinity] is going to be better for him.”