Hull KR take advantage
Hull KR have also looked to Leigh to bolster their own ranks ahead of the Qualifiers, making two impressive signings in the shape of outside backs Craig Hall and Ben Crooks.
Hall scored 21 tries in the Championship this season and now returns to the club that he spent four years at, while Crooks also returns to East Yorkshire having come through the ranks, like Hall, at Hull FC.
“It’s been a tough year for us in the outside backs and we’ve lost ‘[Thomas] Minns, [Andrew] Heffernan and [Ryan] Shaw all for the rest of the season,” said Rovers head coach Tim Sheens.
“With that in mind, most of our punch has come down the left from Junior Vaivai and Justin Carney when he’s played, so we needed to fix up our right edge and I’m hoping these two coming in helps us to do that.”
Three Hull KR players head in the other direction as part of the deal, with young trio Will Dagger, Josh Johnson and Jordan Walne all spending the rest of the year on loan at the Leigh Sports Village.
Leeds and Widnes bring in reinforcements
Along with Hall and Crooks, another two players have left Leigh to help Super League sides in their attempts to pass safely through the Qualifiers.
Leeds have added former Castleford and Hull FC loose forward Jordan Thompson to their squad for the remainder of the season, with director of rugby Kevin Sinfield describing him as “a standout player in the Championship”.
Thompson said he was “very pleased” to sign for the Rhinos, adding that “it’s not often you get big clubs wanting you in and there are none much bigger than this club so I’m ready to just rip in.”
Leeds signing Jordan Thompson. Photo credit: Leeds Rhinos official website.The list of Leigh departures is finished off by captain Harrison Hanson, with the former Super League winner bringing vast experience to struggling Widnes.
Vikings interim head coach Francis Cummins said that he “offers real experience and leadership to the team, having played in some quality environments and featured in high-pressure games throughout his career.
“He will bring real presence to either our middle or our edge, as someone who plays with real intent and offers power in defence. I am sure that he will go on to become a favourite of our supporters.”
