Not anymore, Leeds changed the deal on Monday with Craig and Ryan to make sure they end up having Brierley in the end rather than waiting for him to come out of contract (if Leigh got promotion). So either way, he will be at Leigh next season no matter which devision they are in, on loan from Leeds, with Leeds paying part of his salary. He will then join Leeds in 2017. All announced in May next year.

From the horses mouth.

A week is a long time in etc.A lot can happen between now and 2017

Why would Leeds change a deal that could've seen them have him in 2016 to one that will see them have him in 2017 instead?

Would make no logical sense if that original idea of "he joins if Leigh don't get promoted" was correct. Especially with Leigh getting promotion looking less likely than before the Middle 8's started.

So this whole deal will be done, the transfer will go through the RFL registration process as will the loan back, but it's all going to be kept secret until May 2016?

Why? Why not announce it before the start of the 2016 season? It makes no sense for any of the parties to delay it and hope it doesn't leak out.

Castleford and Warringotn managed it with Daryl Clark, however it got leaked out, just like this has.

I get that, but I don't get why both clubs would start next season with Brierley - now registered as a Leeds player - loaned back to Leigh but none of it made public so to all intents and purposes it looks like he's still a Leigh player? Why not announce it in January, rather than wait until May?

It is never a deal until signed contracts are exchanged. It would appear that this was never contractual and more likely to be just an agreement in principle if key basic terms have been significantly changed.

Did Warrington loan Clark back to Cas in 2014 or did they just sign him for 2015?

I think "officially" he was still a Cas player for SC purposes but Wire paid the transfer fee upfront so Cas could pay the Inland Revenue.

Jordan Baldwinson has been crowned Championship young player of the year.

George Milton and Mason Tonks have both joined Doncaster permanently.

So we are paying out wages next year so Brierley can play for someone else and in 2017 we can give a 25 year old championship half back with no SL experience a go?

What an utterly terrible deal that would be for us.

Yep.

But i will believe it when i see it.

Yeah the deal has apparently changed already once. Even though we were going to get him if Leigh didn't get promoted we've suddenly decided to loan him back JUST as Leigh's Middle 8 campaign is hanging by a thread.....no, really!

Horses mouth, which I think you'd believe wouldn't you?