Not just the Rhinos who will be affected , my lad got the same problem at Giants . They've got 2 on first team contracts , the rest are being told they will be offered amateur terms so train and play for free , no expenses etc . He wants to stay in League but might not be able to afford to and is even having trials at football teams .

I've said before a generation is going to be lost here .

Exactly, its going to be every club in Super League virtually. Real shame.

It will impact the sport for a good few years. There is no guarantee players will return to amateur clubs when things get more normal, if they ever do, so a lot of players will be lost to the game at a lot of levels.

Reserve competion has gone, u16s are moving up and clubs cant afford to keep 35 kids to play in an u19s team. Its reality unfortunately. Hard decisions have to be made to keep the game going.

Terrible position to be in.

Iwan Stephens signed with Newcastle Falcons.

I think its a shame he didnt get a chance here.

Yep it is.

Rowley in talks with Bulls, Joe Burton with Batley and York. Oli Burton staying at Leeds.

Are there limits on the size of the FT squad?

Is Oli the 9 mate?

There used to be a rule where only 25 players could earn over £30k p.a. But not sure if still exists

I’m really struggling with losing some of the young talent and at the same time bringing in older players like Ferres and Thompson, when this season there is nothing to lose by playing the kids.

Yea, he's the worst of the lot IMO

Hes been kept due to lack of options at the position we only have Jonah Parsons other than Oli as a 9 and for some unknown reason they keep wanting to play Jonah at 7.

Well I can kindof see the logic there Marty: we have good prospect forwards coming out of our ears at the moment; aside from the ones around first grade already, Edwards, Gannon, Gibbons, Wallace have good shouts (I'm sure there are others in the same bracket). Good problem to have IMO because I've been so frustrated with our first grade pack for years and years. Oledski, Holroyd, Walters, Smith, Mustapha are already floating about and O'Connor - who I'm not sure about yet. In fact I was surprised O'Connor was lined up for an appearance before Muizz, who seems to have shown significantly more so far.

At hooker, since we lost Johnson/signed Leeming, between he and Dwyer we seem to have reasonable cover for a number of years.

Centres, IF Broadbent makes it (and there are another couple of good prospects coming through), we're good there for a while too. With Alfie (is Sam Little still with us too?) and Walker then FB seems alright.

Where we look weak is succession planning at half, where McLelland will hopefully make it, but both Gale and Lui are "back-endish". Can't see any standout talent coming through the youth system here, and that's been the case for a while. Parsons has some pace and evasion about him so maybe they are thinking "Rob Burrow 2"...? Perhaps similar role with some cover between 7 and 9, I don't know.

Weve got a good half coming thru system Jimbo but far too early to say at thr moment.

Edwards and Gannon are the 2 forwards coming thru that the club like at 17 year old. Gannon has put a lot of size on during lockdown which is seen as a positive.

Kids have lost an entire year of development unfortunately though have to see what impact that has on some.

Personally speaking i wouldnt have released Iwan Stephens but its done now.

I see the scholorship ofrers have been sent out by the pro clubs and are starting to be accepted, any info on any lads who are joining our scholorship? Seen at least 1 of the very talented East Leeds u14's have chosen Warrington over us.