Leeds Rhinos are not looking to replace Kruise Leeming if and when his departure from the club is sealed. Leeming requested a release from his Rhinos contract last week, with a move to the NRL now increasingly likely as the hooker looks to continue his career away from Headingley.
Rohan Smith confirmed on Tuesday that Leeming's departure has not yet been rubber-stamped to his knowledge, with the club believed to still be negotiating with the hooker over the terms of his release. Any exit would free up significant salary cap space - but not a quota spot, with the Rhinos' overseas tally full as things stand.
And Smith suggested that in the short-term at least, there will be no like-for-like replacement for Leeming, with Jarrod O'Connor and Corey Johnson getting his full backing.
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"At this point, we're not looking to replace him," Smith said. "He hasn't actually left yet to my knowledge, but we feel we're in a good position there with Jarrod O'Connor.
"He's done a tremendous job and Corey Johnson is back to full health, and he did a good shift in a really strong Bradford win. Corey won't be far away from getting some game-time to support Jarrod, but we also see Jarrod as an 80-minute proposition.
"He loves playing for the club and I'm just focussed on the guys who are here and preparing for the game. I haven't put a lot of thought into the potential departure but we're always on the lookout. We'll see what happens in the next weeks and months."
Smith confirmed that Leeming was not training with the Rhinos as the final details of his release are decided upon and admitted he had spoken with the hooker since he requested to leave, but only briefly.
O'Connor is likely to start at hooker again on Saturday as Leeds host unbeaten Catalans Dragons, and Smith admitted that there will be minor changes to his side.
"Not a great deal," he said when asked about changes. "We've a couple of guys who are there or thereabouts who didn't play, and we'll see. We've had a bit of illness in the camp but we'll know a bit more from Thursday and we'll lock a team in for Saturday."
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