Forward Joe Shorrocks is set to become the latest player to leave crisis club Salford Red Devils.
Leeds Rhinos are close to completing a move for the 25-year-old second-rower or loose-forward who spent five seasons with hometown club Wigan Warriors before joining Salford two years ago.
The transfer would see him reunite with former teammates Kallum Watkins – who joined Leeds from Salford – in April and winger Chris Hankinson, following his similar move last week.
Shorrocks, who can also play at hooker, would add some depth to Rhinos’ squad for the final five games of the regular Betfred Super League season at a time when Leeds are facing an injury crisis in the pack. Props Mikolaj Oledzki, Tom Holroyd, Cooper Jenkins and Tom Nicholson-Watton were all ruled out of today’s (Saturday) derby at Castleford Tigers, along with loose-forward and co-captain Cameron Smith.
Smith has missed three games with a back problem and it’s not yet clear when he will be fit to return to the side. Eighteen-year-old Presley Cassell was drafted in at prop today for his first start, in his fourth senior appearance and rookie second-rower Ben Littlewood was on the bench.
Shorrocks has played 113 Super League games, 40 of them for Salford. He has featured 16 times this year, the last of those in Salford’s defeat at AMT Headingley last month. Salford have cancelled tomorrow’s home game against Wakefield Trinity, but are hopeful of raising a team to face Leigh Leopards next week.
