SAD NEWS: Leeds Rhinos encounters another setback with injury.
Rugby league players are hard as nails, we knew that already. But Leeds Rhinos star Harry Newman has taken it to another level, sharing a graphic image of the horror injury which forced him off in last night’s win at Castleford Tigers. The best bit… it was his own team-mate who caused it!
Newman left the field just before the half-hour mark at the Jungle following a head-on-head collision with Rhinos team-mate James Bentley in a tackle.
He officially was withdrawn for a HIA, which he later passed, but could not return to the field due to what Leeds themselves on social media initially described as a “cut”.
The extent of that cut – as we now know – was absolutely horrific. Post-match, Rhinos boss Rohan Smith told the media that the centre had been sent to hospital and would require “quite a few stitches”.
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13 of the best off-contract Super League players this season: Sneyd, Walmsley, Martin..
It’s fast approaching May 1 – meaning any off-contract players are officially allowed to enter talks with other clubs.
And this year, there’s a bumper list of over 150 Super League players who are free agents and on the open market at the end of this year. Of course, many of those will have their futures sorted before the season comes to an end – and there’s already rumours some have even agreed moves already.
That got us thinking: from the 150-plus players on the off-contract list, what’s the best 13 we could field? It’s a pretty handy line-up..
1. Gareth O’Brien (Leigh Leopards)
O’Brien has been one of the most consistent performers in Super League for a number of years, and his versatility will undoubtedly make him an attractive option to a number of clubs.
Whether the Leopards look to retain him remains to be seen, with a move for David Armstrong still being mooted in the background potentially nudging O’Brien down the pecking order at Leigh. But O’Brien definitely still has something to offer someone going into next year.
2. Tommy Makinson (St Helens)
One of a handful of players who, if rumours are to be believed, has already secured a move elsewhere for 2025. Catalans Dragons are understood to have secured Makinson’s signature on a two-year deal next year, taking one of the biggest names in Super League off the market.
But as things stand, nothing has been finalised in regards to Makinson’s future and while the chances of him remaining at the Saints appear to be looking slimmer as the weeks progress, Makinson would be a player who would command interest from all over the game if he was available.
3. Esan Marsters (Huddersfield Giants)
Both of Huddersfield’s starting centres are on the open market as of May 1, with Kevin Naiqama out of contract as well as Marsters. The Cook Islands international is, like Naiqama, a player bound to command interest.
He also has his best years ahead of him age-wise and while you would expect Huddersfield to push towards tabling a new deal and re-signing Marsters, the player isn’t going to be short of interest from elsewhere.
4. Ricky Leutele (Leigh Leopards)
Injury stunted Leutele’s 2023 but he looks to be in impressive form in the early stages of this season at Leigh Leopards.
The fact he is a quota player would complicate matters when it comes to clubs looking to snap up the centre but on his day, Leutele is still one of the very best in Super League and would surely be able to secure a deal somewhere.
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