ESL ESL Leeds - News, Views and Rumours

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Kevin Sinfield, the Leeds Rhinos captain. Rob Burrow, the little man with the big heart belying his size among giants. Tasting the joy of victory in Grand Final and Wembley showpieces.

The aching limbs and throbbing, twitching muscles, all forgotten in a hug - a coming together of friends, team-mates, warriors.

Only this time it was different. Burrow's battles now go far beyond ducking and weaving between hulks trying to take him down. Motor Neurone Disease is his adversary now.

Sinfield ran seven marathons in seven days in support of his former team-mate and the MND Association, raising £1.2m shortly after he crossed the finishing line for the final time on Monday.

That smashed the former England playmaker's initial target of £77,777, a nod to the number seven shirt which Burrow wore for Leeds during his 17-year rugby league career.

The hug they shared after one leg of the challenge was evidence of their bond, a reminder just how special friendship is.

 

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Leeds Rhinos have granted prop Ava Seumanufagai immediate release to return to Australia for family reasons.

The 29-year-old joined the Rhinos in 2019 from Cronulla Sharks and went on to make 32 appearances, playing in October's Challenge Cup final win.

However, coronavirus travel restrictions between England and Australia have separated Seumanufagai from his family back home.

 

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Leeds Rhinos have signed New Zealand international forward Zane Tetevano from National Rugby League side Penrith Panthers on a three-year deal.

Tetevano, 30, has played 122 NRL games and featured in 2018 and 2020 Grand Finals for Sydney Roosters and the Panthers respectively.

He was part of the Kiwis squad that beat Great Britain in 2019, and has also played for Cook Islands.

 

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Former Leeds Rhinos captain Stevie Ward has announced his retirement at the age of 27 because of the long-term effects of concussion.

Ward said he is unable to even exercise without "irritating his symptoms".

He missed the rest of the 2020 season after suffering a concussion in the Rhinos' opening game of the year.

 

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Leeds Rhinos captain Luke Gale is likely to miss the start of the Super League season after tearing apectoral muscle in pre-season training.

The 32-year-old England scrum-half scored five tries in 18 games in his first season with Leeds in 2020, and lifted the Challenge Cup at Wembley.

It followed two injury-hit years at Castleford, with Achilles and kneecap injuries limiting his game-time.

 

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Leeds Rhinos have signed back-rower King Vuniyayawa from National Rugby League side NZ Warriors for 2021.

The 25-year-old Fiji international made five NRL appearances for the Auckland-based club last season, making his debut against Newcastle in March.

Vuniyayawa takes up the quota spot left by prop Ava Seumanufagai's return to Australia earlier this pre-season.

 

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Leeds Rhinos centre Jack Broadbent has signed a new two-year contract.

Batley-born Broadbent made his Leeds debut towards the end of the Covid-disrupted 2020 season.

He made three Super League starts over the closing weeks of the season, two of them out of position at stand-off, but says his biggest moment was playing in the Rob Burrow testimonial game.

 

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Leeds Rhinos have signed Kyle Eastmond on a two-year contract as he returns to rugby league after a nine-year stint playing rugby union.

The 31-year-old began playing league with St Helens in 2007 before switching codes to join Bath in October 2011.

Winning six England caps while with Bath, he later joined Wasps and then Leicester, until his release last term.

 

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Leeds Rhinos full-back Jack Walker is likely to miss the entire 2021 Super League season because of a foot injury.

The 21-year-old had surgery on the injury last season but scans have revealed further complications.

Rhinos will also be without half-back Rob Lui for up to three months after the 31-year-old tore a quadricep in training two weeks ago.

Leeds begin their Super League campaign on Saturday, 27 March when they face Wakefield Trinity.