Jarrod O’Connor is keen to extend his contract at Leeds Rhinos amid mounting interest from rival Super League clubs. Rugby League Live understands Hull FC are keen on acquiring the 20-year-old loose forward’s services.
Other sides have also made it known they would like to sign him when his current deal at Headingley expires later this year. Yet highly-regarded O’Connor says he is loving life under new Rhinos boss Rohan Smith and is hoping an agreement can be struck.
O’Connor told Rugby League Live: “I’d love to stay at Leeds and am hoping I will be staying here. I’ve got offers coming in but this is the biggest club in England and this is where I want to be.
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“I absolutely love it here and all the lads are really close, especially all us young boys. That’s a big factor in wanting me to stay because, with us all coming through together, it’s like a new era in the club’s history.
“I’m hoping the deal can be sorted as soon as possible so I can put it to bed and concentrate on my rugby. This is where I want to spend the majority of my career if I can.”
New Leeds boss Smith spoke highly of O’Connor following last Friday’s 24-6 win over Wakefield Trinity. The former Widnes Vikings prospect and fellow rookie Morgan Gannon impressed off the bench and O’Connor is now determined to become a key part of the new chapter being written by Smith at Leeds.
The win over Wakefield marked a third straight home victory for the Rhinos and O’Connor added: “I want to lock that spot in, so that I’m playing every week.
“As long as I keep training hard and putting in decent performances, then I think I’ll get closer to doing that. Of course you always want to impress a new coach and I’ll obviously listen to any tips that Rohan wants to give me, but essentially it’s just about cracking on with my job.
“We’ve got some great young players coming through – Morgan Gannon is an unbelievable talent – and I think in the coming years that we can get up to the top again.”
