Leeds Rhinos gives sensational reply to Brodie Croft speculation as NRL clause detail revealed
The Australian Daily Telegraph reports that St George-Illawarra Dragons have prepared a shortlist of five potential replacements for Ben Hunt, the former Kangaroos and Queensland star who has been granted an early release from the final year of his contract. Among the candidates for the role is Leeds Rhinos’ Brodie Croft, who emerged as a prime target despite his current commitment to the Super League. Other names allegedly on the Dragons’ radar include Wigan Warriors’ Bevan French, Cronulla Sharks’ Daniel Atkinson, Lachlan Ilias from South Sydney Rabbitohs, and Wests Tigers’ Adam Doueihi.
However, if the Dragons intend to bring Croft into their squad for next season, they may face a significant hurdle. Croft joined Leeds Rhinos from Salford Red Devils just over a year ago on a three-year deal, having previously played in the NRL with Melbourne Storm and Brisbane Broncos. Leeds’ sporting director, Ian Blease, confirmed to The Yorkshire Evening Post that Croft is set to stay with Leeds at least through the 2025 season. “He does have an NRL clause in his contract, but that had to be activated by a specific deadline,” Blease explained. “That deadline has already passed, so he won’t be going to the NRL next year.”
Croft, 27, has been a standout performer for the Rhinos this season, contributing significantly to the team’s offensive efforts. His 22 assists were instrumental in 88 tries scored by Leeds during the Betfred Super League campaign, a tally only surpassed by Leigh Leopards’ Lachlan Lam and Hull KR’s Mikey Lewis, who each recorded 24 assists. Additionally, Croft participated in 26 of Leeds’ 28 matches, scoring eight tries himself and adding two drop goals, both of which secured golden-point extra-time victories against London Broncos.
Dragons’ head coach Shane Flanagan commented on the recruitment process, acknowledging the wide scope of players under consideration. “There are many players we could potentially look at,” he noted. “We also need to decide if we should hold off and aim for 2026 instead. I wouldn’t say any one player is ahead of the others, but we have to assess who we could realistically pursue or if we should stick with our current options for 2025. Some players might be removed from consideration right away. I’m not saying anyone is in or out yet.”
This leaves St George-Illawarra with a complex decision as they weigh their options for the coming season and beyond. If they decide to wait until 2026, Croft could remain a viable candidate, but his current contract status suggests any immediate NRL return would require adjustments. Meanwhile, French, Atkinson, Ilias, and Doueihi continue to offer alternative routes for the Dragons to fill the void left by Hunt, as the team evaluates which player could best serve their goals in the upcoming seasons.
