Alex Sutcliffe will leave Leeds Rhinos at the end of the season, Richard Agar has confirmed.
The club has been informed that the Rhinos Academy product, who played in the Challenge Cup Final win over Salford Red Devils last year, will not be signing a new deal with the club.
He is now expected to join Castleford Tigers, who are understood to have secured his services on a four-year deal.
"I'm really disappointed," Agar said.
"I've not hidden from the fact we like Alex as a player and what he can do for us.
"But we're a development club, we believe in developing our own and sometimes when you develop your own you have to almost accept and concede along the way you're not going to be able to keep them all.
"While I'm disappointed he's going, while we did see him as part of our plans moving forward, we've been unable to keep him. That happens, that's life.
"He's off having an operation at the minute so I've not had the official word from him but an agent has indicated he won't be staying with us."
Leeds' external recruitment is ongoing with talks taking place with players from both the UK and overseas.
Agar has previously stated that the club is targeting 'two to three' senior additions to the squad for 2022.
