Leeds Rhinos in talks with Liam Sutcliffe over extended contract

Sutcliffe is under contract until the end of the 2021 season, but seemed to be on his way out after asking to go on the transfer list last July.

He said at the time he felt he needed “something new and a bit of a different challenge”, but - playing at left-centre - subsequently went on be one of Rhinos’ most in-form players when Super League resumed after the coronavirus shutdown and featured in their Coral Challenge Cup win over Salford Red Devils at Wembley.

Rhinos’ management - including coach Richard Agar - have made it clear all along they are keen to keep the England Knights man and Sutcliffe has now confirmed talks between the club and his agent are on-going.

“There is stuff going on in the background, we keep chatting most weeks,” he revealed.

“Whatever happens will happen and I am sure it will get resolved at some point.

“My agent is dealing with some stuff for me in the background, I have kind of left it to him.”

If Sutcliffe can be persuaded to sign a new deal it will be a major boost to Rhinos.

He made his senior debut in May, 2013 and is now their longest-serving player, at the age of just 26.

He scored four tries and one goal in 14 games last year and has featured 183 times for his home city club.

Speaking as Rhinos’ players reported in to begin pre-season, Sutcliffe admitted that is “pretty weird, to be honest”

He said: “It doesn’t seem two minutes ago that I was just coming into the team as a youngster, so it is pretty strange.”

Sutcliffe has become known as one of the most versatile players in the European game, but may have finally found a settled position.

Having previously featured in the halves, at full-back and in the pack, he took over from the injured Konrad Hurrell last August and retained his spot when the Tongan powerhouse returned to the team.

Following Super League young player of the year Harry Newman’s season-ending broken leg, Hurrell switched to the right, alongside winger Tom Briscoe, while Sutcliffe formed an effective attacking partnership with the competition’s top try scorer Ash Handley.

“I thought I managed to get some decent form when I came back after lockdown, playing in the left-centre,” Sutcliffe reflected.

“There were a couple of good partnerships on our side, with the likes of Galey [Luke Gale] and Ash as well.

“I was happy with how things went and hopefully we can improve on that in this pre-season and go a bit better next year.”

Pre-season began yesterday, 52 days after a loss to Catalans Dragons in the play-offs ended Rhinos’ 2020 campaign.

The time off was welcome after a hectic end last season, but Sutcliffe insisted he is glad to be back at work.

He said: “It was a bit of madness towards the end so it has been nice to have a break.

“It seems like it has been a bit of a long one so I am really happy to be back in.”

Training usually resumes in November, but was delayed because of the late finish to the coronavirus-hit 2020 season.

Rhinos have just over nine weeks until the new Super League term is due to begin on March 11.

“It has been a bit different, but the whole year has been different,” Sutcliffe said.

“It’s a case of coping with change, we have just got to get on with it. I think everyone has been training for the majority of this time off so we should be at a good starting point and two months is plenty.

“I should think we’ll get a fair bit done in that time and we’ll be ready to go.”

Support the YEP and become a subscriber today. Enjoy unlimited access to local news and the latest on Leeds United, With a digital subscription, you see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Click here to subscribe.