Lee Radford today remained coy about the prospect of Leeds Rhinos duo Alex Mellor and Jack Broadbent joining Castleford Tigers next season. Rugby League Live has reported that Castleford have moved to sign the pair at the end of the campaign when their respective deals at Headingley expire.
Radford was quizzed about second-rower Mellor and utility back Broadbent at his pre-match press conference today and, significantly, he refused to deny they were bound for Wheldon Road.
“Both are tidy players in the right age bracket but, at present, they are obviously Leeds players,” said Radford, whose side face Toulouse Olympique in France on Sunday. I think it would be wrong of me to comment on anybody who hasn’t been announced or they haven’t announced to whatever club they are going.
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“Players who are with me as well, I wouldn’t want other clubs commenting on them. This time of year is a difficult period and I think you can have your head turned easily, but you can easily hit some form because you’re chasing a contract as well.
“It’s a time of year when the fans don’t see what’s going on in the background, but so many things can happen that can have an impact on your performance.”
Radford, who is also understood to be close to finalising a deal for Warrington Wolves playmaker Gareth Widdop, will be without Gareth O’Brien this weekend.
The former Salford star sustained a calf injury during last Saturday’s home defeat to Wigan and could be replaced by Ryan Hampshire or Danny Richardson. Tigers head coach Radford, who revealed Niall Evalds will return in the visit of Catalans on June 26, said of O’Brien: “He won’t be available this week hopefully if his rehab goes well he will be back after the international break.
“The changes you have to make is difficult, we will try to get him a good fortnight’s rehab. Rocky Hampshire is obviously an option there and Danny Richardson hopefully can come up trumps and be available for only his second game of the season.
“I will make a decision on X or Y and to be honest neither of them played good last week but one of them will play because they were better than the other.”
