Rohan Smith has made no secret of his plans to recruit from the Championship as part of his Leeds Rhinos re-build. Smith has been spotted regularly at games in the second-tier scouting for potential recruits.
Already, the Rhinos have been heavily linked with a move for Batley Bulldogs fullback Luke Hooley while Doncaster teenager Leon Ruan has been training with the club looking to earn a new deal.
It appears more signings are likely to come from the competition too. When asked about his plan to recruit from the Championship last month, Smith said: “Certainly. I think it’s a good way to manage your salary cap. There’s a bunch of guys who take time to develop. The NRL has shown that. There’s a bunch of players who have made their debuts at 27 and 28.
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“Jonathan Reuben played at North Devils last year and he made his NRL debut at 29. I think he’s got the record now. Makahesi Makatoa for Parramatta played at 28 or 29 making his debut last year and signed a deal from the back of it. People take longer to develop than others. It’s not over if you’re 24 or 25 and playing Championship, not in my eyes anyway. We’ll definitely be looking there.”
Taking that into account, we've picked out four young stars in the Championship who would fit perfectly into Smith's recruitment policy.
Jake Bradley (Whitehaven)
Age: 21
Position: Prop
Bradley holds a record with the Cumbrian club for being their youngest ever player, making his debut at the age of 16. Since then he has gone on to establish himself as a regular in the Whitehaven side, making 22 appearances so far this season.
Despite his young age he is closing in on 50 first-team appearances and is thought of very highly at Haven, who believe they have a star on their hands.
For a young prop to have so many games under their belt is rare and he continues to develop as a result. Though not the biggest forward, it's clear that he has plenty of talents that make up for that.
Owen Farnworth (Widnes Vikings)
Age: 23
Position: Prop
Standing at 6ft 1 and weight over 100kgs, Farnworth certainly brings size to the table. He has some Super League experience having made his debut for the Vikings during their final years in Super League.
He has remained loyal to the club since and is one of the first names on the teamsheet these days, making 23 appearances this season. There have been concerns over his durability at times as he has missed a lot of games but those fears have been put to bed this season.
He has made 59 appearances in his career so far.
George Flanagan Jr (Bradford Bulls)
Age: 17
Position: Fullback
Flanagan was part of a great feel-good moment earlier this season as he scored on his Bulls debut, while on the pitch with his dad! Flanagan Jr has been a star for Bradford's reserves all season and took his first-team chance when it came.
Earlier this year, Flanagan turned down four Super League clubs to fulfil his boyhood dream of playing for the Bulls and it's already clear that he is destined for a great career in the game.
Ben Tibbs (Halifax Panthers)
Age: 21
Position: Centre
Formerly within the Huddersfield Giants setup, Tibbs made the move to Halifax in 2021 and has continued his development there.
His career has exploded into life this season, grabbing his opportunity with both hands and nailing down a spot in a strong Halifax side for a large chunk of the season.
He notched an impressive ten tries in as many games earlier in the season and has continued that form throughout the year, averaging almost a try per game. Extremely quick and dangerous close to the line, Tibbs has emerged as one of the Championship's best young players.
Luis Roberts (Leigh Centurions)
Age: 20
Position: Wing/Centre
A Wales international, Roberts started his career at Salford before making the short move to Swinton. He was a standout star for the Lions in a difficult season as the club got relegated from the Championship.
However, Roberts' performances were recognised as he was nominated for the Championship's young players of the year award after scoring ten tries. That saw Leigh come calling, with Roberts moving to his hometown club.
He has found game time hard to come by in Adrian Lam's star-studded squad but he has been playing regularly during a loan spell at Widnes, playing six times this season. Roberts is way over six feet tall but has proven his athleticism and eye for the try line.
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