St Helens have won the race to land Konrad Hurrell's signature in 2022.
Rugby League Live understands that the centre will head to the Totally Wicked Stadium next year after verbally agreeing to sign for the reigning Super League champions in a move that will see Hurrell link up with his international coach at Tonga, current Saints boss Kristian Woolf.
Leeds had made Hurrell an offer, believed to be on reduced terms to his current contract with the club, to stay next season. But Hurrell has instead opted for a multi-year deal with the Saints, which creates an interesting situation recruitment-wise for the Rhinos going into 2022.
Rhinos coach Richard Agar said on Tuesday that he expected a decision on Hurrell's future to be confirmed 'pretty shortly', but stressed the player had not told the Rhinos whether or not he was intending to leave at the end of the season as of yet.
But that now appears to be an inevitability, with Hurrell already informing those close to him that he will take up the deal on the table with the Saints next season, in a move that will be a like-for-like replacement for Kevin Naiqama, who is heading home at the end of 2021.
Agar had admitted previously that one of Hurrell, Rhyse Martin and King Vuniyayawa would have to leave due to quota regulations, with the Rhinos agreeing to bring in Aidan Sezer and Blake Austin next year. Half-back Rob Lui is heading home, meaning at least one more quota player would have to depart Headingley to ensure Leeds comply with the overseas quota rulings.
But with Vuniyayawa now also believed to be signing for Salford next season, it means that despite looking to trim their overseas quota a few weeks ago, Leeds are now in a position where they have a space available to bring in a new player from overseas if they wish.
Whether they head into 2022 with that space spare or identify a player in the meantime, however, remains to be seen.
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