Today, Jarrod O’Connor signed a new three-year deal to stay at Leeds Rhinos.
It’s been two big days for the club who sealed the services of another promising young talent for two years yesterday in Corey Johnson whilst today Gary Hetherington in the Yorkshire Evening Post confirmed today that it seems that Blake Austin will still be a Rhino come 2023.
O’Connor, son of former Wigan prop and Sky Sports commentator Terry O’Connor, is the one to sign the longest deal – his being for three years until the end of 2025 – despite reported interest from Hull FC.
Despite that interest from a side who sit well above Leeds in the table at present, O’Connor chose to stay loyal to the club who signed him following Widnes’ struggles when the went into administration.
Speaking to the club website today, O’Connor explained why he chose to stay at Headingley: “The club showed me a lot of faith when Widnes went into administration. I see my future here. This is where I always wanted to be.
“Rohan showing a lot of faith in me since he’s become coach has been a big reason to stay. Training’s been going well and I’ve been getting to play the games helping me improve. Being under him, all his coaching is looking up for the club.”
He also outlined that he has aspirations of winning trophies with the club alongside his mates. O’Connor is one of a number of promising young players at Headingley evoking memories of how the Golden Generation began.
It seems he and his teammates want to replicate that side as he said: “Just getting back up to the top of the table and start winning trophies again especially with all the young lads coming through. We’re quite close and we all want to stay here and be one of them generations that stay together and win a lot of trophies.”
