Gold Coast Titans finally confirmed the arrival of Kruise Leeming over the weekend and with it, Super League clubs took notice.
Leeming will now spend the rest of the season in the NRL as he fulfils a career-long dream of playing down under with Justin Holbrook at the Titans. However, with that move now complete, clubs are now in a position to try and land a player they did not anticipate being on the market just several weeks ago.
With his time at Headingley now officially over, Leeming is free to start negotiating with clubs in both Super League and the NRL ahead of the 2024 season. His contract with the Titans runs until the end of the season but given NRL rules, he could now sign a contract with a Super League club whenever he pleases.
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NRL rules state that players who are in the final 12 months of their contract are free to negotiate terms with rival clubs and given that now applies to Leeming, he is free to hold talks with both NRL and Super League clubs regarding a move for 2024. That's slightly different to the rulings in the UK, where any Super League club wishing to hold talks with a player at a rival in the competition must wait until May 1st.
In essence, while the hooker will not play against Leeds this season, their decision to let him move on means a rival club can sign him for next season without having to pay a transfer fee. Leeming was under contract for the 2024 season before the Rhinos granted him a release.
It remains to be seen which clubs make a move for Leeming, though his availability comes at a time when many clubs are set to be searching for a new number nine. The likes of Michael McIlorum, James Roby and Daryl Clark are all in the final year of their contracts at Catalans Dragons, St Helens and Warrington Wolves respectively while all three of Hull FC's senior hookers are off-contract.
It means a number of clubs are considering their options in that department and Leeming's potential availability is set to leave clubs with plenty to ponder.
For now, Leeming will enjoy his time down under and will be hoping his performances can earn him offers for a more permanent stay in Australia to consider. But it seems unlikely that he will be short of offers regardless.
As for Leeds, they are expected to give Corey Johnson an opportunity in the coming weeks before making a decision on whether they look to invest in another hooker. Jarrod O'Connor is the club's senior player in that department but Johnson will be given the chance to prove he's ready for a more important role within the squad.
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