Kruise Leeming is set for a shock exit from Leeds Rhinos after being granted permission to pursue a deal elsewhere. Leeming, the club's senior hooker and former captain, has not been selected for Leeds' clash with Castleford Tigers tonight after talks surrounding his exit evolved during the week.
Leeming's representatives are believed to have held talks with the Rhinos and an understanding has been reached enabling them to pursue a contract elsewhere with immediate effect. The 27-year-old is under contract until the end of 2024 but now appears set to leave well before that.
It is news that will come as a shock to many given Leeming is one of the club's senior players. However, he lost the captaincy at the start of the year, with coach Rohan Smith instead deciding to run with no captain for the current campaign. Furthermore, Leeming found himself being utilised from the bench during last year's run to the Grand Final, with Jarrod O'Connor being preferred as the starting nine. Though Leeming started the first two games of the season, he found himself back on the bench for the victory over St Helens.
