Levi Edwards' desire to play regular first-team rugby was the catalyst for his shock departure from Leeds Rhinos. The 19-year-old made a surprise exit from Headingley on Wednesday, despite being widely regarded as one of the club's best up-and-coming talents.
The deal certainly caught many out given Edwards' regular involvement during the pre-season games. He was described as a 'generational talent' by former coach Richard Agar just last year and his development appeared to be coming on nicely during a loan spell last year. At just 18 years of age, he scored four tries in eleven appearances during a loan spell in the Championship. Everything appeared to be progressing nicely.
Now, he has gone for good. Leeds have sold their Academy talent for a fee thought to be in the region of £35,000. Edwards has signed a three-year deal with York Knights, where he impressed last year. So what has brought this about?
Rugby League Live understands the two parties agreed to move in different directions following discussions which took place in recent weeks. Edwards was hopeful he would break into the first team this season and felt his pre-season performances had bolstered his chances of achieving that.
However, it became apparent in those conversations that Edwards remained down the pecking order and was still seen as a development player given he remains a teenager. Sources claim it was made clear to Edwards that his first-team hopes for the current season weren't likely to be achieved with the likes of Harry Newman, Nene Macdonald and Luis Roberts all in contention for his position as well as players such as Derrell Olpherts and Rhyse Martin who are likely to feature at centre at stages during the season.
Edwards, who was off-contract at the end of the season, is thought to have been disappointed with the outcome of those discussions and expressed his desire to play regular first-team rugby, which prompted an agreement to be reached. Once York declared interest in purchasing Edwards, as well as the security of a three-year contract, it was decided that Edwards was best off moving on.
Allowing Edwards to depart certainly goes against the recent trend of lowering the average age of the Rhinos squad a process that has seen Rohan Smith recruit several younger players. One of them, Roberts, is a centre and there's also Max Simpson which, coupled with Newman and Macdonald, certainly leaves the Rhinos with plenty of options.
That said, there aren't thought to have been any plans within Headingley to sell Edwards and his involvement in the pre-season games reflects that. However, he has now departed and it will be interested to see how his career develops from here.
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