Leeds Rhinos recruitment update as Ian Blease shares Super League vision

New Leeds Rhinos sporting director Ian Blease has admitted he is eyeing improvements to Leeds Rhinos’ squad – but says he is unsure whether they will be able to do business in the immediate term until he starts working at the club.

Blease has been appointed to the newly created post, which will oversee all of Leeds’ on-field activity, marked by the development of the men’s first team squad at Headingley.

The 59-year-old doesn’t officially start work until next Monday, but says he is already in the process of putting together his short-, medium- and long-term recruitment and retention vision. “I’ll look into that,” he said. “I haven’t had those intimate conversations yet because I wasn’t hired until the last few days, so I’m going to get into that now.”

Asked about the team’s current head coach Rohan Smith, Blease said: “To be fair, he’s had a few injuries this year with no excuses for anyone. I’m not sure how many times he’s had a full team to choose from this year.

“There will be some improvements, no doubt. I never stop. I was actually doing a bit of (business) this morning.

“There are a couple of key players that we’d like to have a look at, for sure. Whether this is the right time for them, I don’t know yet.

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“I haven’t fully come in yet because it wouldn’t have been good to do that – to come out of Salford and then come here.”

And when asked if Leeds were likely to do any business in the immediate term, Blease remained coy. “I don’t know the details yet,” he said. “I told Gary (Hetherington) last week not to share any details with me because we are still competitors.

“He appreciated that. This is how I am. I didn’t want to know anything until I got in.”

The move to Leeds represents a completely different approach to budgets and transfers to what Blease was probably used to at Salford on a much tighter budget.

And he admitted: “It’s going to be a challenge, there’s a bit of fear there because I’m used to ‘what can be offered for a deal’, so that’s a change in mindset. But I’ve managed significant budgets in my business career and I’m fine with that, but I’m more focused on getting the right people at this club.”

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