When news of Jack Broadbent’s move to Featherstone Rovers emerged on Monday morning, Castleford Tigers coach Lee Radford might well have nodded approvingly. Broadbent, a talented and versatile back and a product of Leeds Rhinos’ vaunted academy, is understood to have signed for Radford’s Tigers side from next season.
The 21-year-old has struggled for game-time at Headingley this year and will spend the remainder of the campaign in the Championship with Brian McDermott’s promotion-chasing Rovers. The move will surely have been applauded by Radford, who will hope Broadbent’s spell under McDermott will develop him further ahead of his arrival at Wheldon Road.
Pre-season training for the 2023 campaign is only a few months away and Broadbent – a rough diamond who just needs a little polishing – could see his career move to the next level at Castleford. The former Batley Boys amateur is at an age where he needs to be playing regularly and, given the huge competition for places at Headingley, a switch to the Tigers makes much sense.
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The same can also be said of Leeds team-mate Alex Mellor, who is also Castleford-bound in 2023. Broadbent’s versatility has perhaps worked against him at Leeds – he was deployed at wing, full-back, stand-off and in his favoured position of centre during his 14 appearances throughout the 2021 season.
Currently, there are three players ahead of Broadbent in the queue for the full-back spot – Zak Hardaker, Richie Myler and Jack Walker – and four if you include Liam Sutcliffe.
In the centres, Harry Newman, despite his injury woes, is one of the most talented young players in the British game, while the trusty Sutcliffe is a regular in that position. Mellor, Tom Briscoe, Rhyse Martin and rookie Max Simpson have all been picked ahead of Broadbent in the centres this term.
With David Fusitu’a and Ash Handley on the flanks, Broadbent will always struggle to get a spot on the wing, hence why his time at Leeds appears to be drawing to a close. But playing for Featherstone in the rough and tumble of the Championship should aid Broadbent’s development significantly, as it has for a number of other Leeds youngsters in recent years.
It may well toughen him up too – McDermott, the most successful coach in Super League history – is no shrinking violet and the Championship is arguably more physical than Super League.
Broadbent follows an almost identical path to Alex Sutcliffe, the current Tigers player who also was sent to Featherstone for the latter parts of last season after agreeing to a deal at the Jungle.
While Broadbent may feel a tinge of sadness at leaving Headingley, his switch to Castleford – via a potentially promotion-winning spell at Featherstone - could prove the making of him.
