It's fair to say Leeds Rhinos' move for Oliver Gildart has come out of left-field. The centre is set to make a short-term move to the club as the mid-season shuffle at Headingley continues.
The deal makes plenty of sense for Gildart himself. He's fallen out of favour at Wests Tigers and has been training with the reserves. A move gives him the opportunity to play his way into World Cup contention, play top-flight rugby again and leave an organisation where he is not wanted.
But for Leeds, the benefits aren't as obvious. There's no denying they are signing a quality player, his Grand Final rings and international appearances showcase that. But the 25-year-old is believed to have agreed a deal with new NRL club Redcliffe Dolphins for 2023, meaning his stay at Headingley won't be a permanent one.
On top of that, it sounds like Leeds will have to move on another of their existing players to bring the former Wigan Warriors centre to the club. Though developments on that front are been kept secretive, it does appear very coincidental that Liam Sutcliffe was heavily linked with a move to Hull FC just last week.
If, and that's all it is at the minute, Sutcliffe is the one who leaves to make way for Gildart, the short-term benefits are questionable. Sutcliffe has been excellent the past two weeks, scoring twice and assisting four tries in the wins over Hull FC and Castleford Tigers. Gildart is a fully-fledged international but hasn't played first-grade rugby league for two months. You'd have to question whether he will be able to perform like Sutcliffe has and at such a pivotal time of the season when Leeds are chasing a play-off spot.
With Gildart not sticking around, the long-term advantages are also hard to piece together. The only logical explanation would be if the Rhinos have already identified a long-term replacement for Sutcliffe and need to ensure they move him off the salary cap while they can. In the ever-evolving transfer market, a player can be in demand one week and unwanted the next. He is still under contract for two seasons so it's not as simple as moving him on at the end of the year. It might simply be a case of doing what they have to do to free up precious salary cap space.
If all that comes to fruition, Gildart then becomes a stop-gap for the remainder of the season and let's face it, as far as short-term options go, you'll struggle to find one better than an England and Great Britain international.
The question everyone reading this will now no doubt be asking is, if that theory is correct, who is the mystery addition? That, unfortunately, remains unknown right now.
The outside bet is that the Rhinos make a last-gasp play to make a deal for Gildart permanent. That does seem very unlikely; Gildart has openly spoken about his desire to try and crack the NRL and it seems almost impossible that he'd give backword on the opportunity to give it another shot, especially when it's under a coach he knows well in Wayne Bennett.
It will be fascinating to see the situation play out. What's become apparent in the past week is recruitment activity won't be predictable or conventional but will make for interesting viewing.
Read more
Jack Walker opens up on Leeds Rhinos exit and discusses long-term future
Tom Lineham set for Championship move after falling down Wakefield Trinity pecking order
Harry Newman's appeal delayed as Leeds Rhinos made to wait on centre's availability
The incredible numbers behind Leeds Rhinos' awful disciplinary record in 2022
Jacques O'Neill's heartbreaking Love Island exit will change attitude towards male mental health
