Leeds' Bailey rejects Brisbane NRL offer

Leeds prop Ryan Bailey, who has won six Super League grand finals with the Rhinos, has rejected offers from NRL clubs including Brisbane.

Leeds' Bailey rejects Brisbane NRL offer

Leeds prop Ryan Bailey has rejected NRL offers from Australia to remain a one-club Super League man.

Leeds prop Ryan Bailey has rejected NRL offers from Australia to remain a one-club man with the Super League champions.

The 29-year-old forward, who joined the Rhinos straight from school, was the only remaining out-of-contract Leeds player not to sign up for 2014, but has agreed to a new two-year deal.

Bailey, one of only five players to have appeared in all six of the Rhinos' Super League grand final triumphs, had been linked with a move to Brisbane and said there had been offers from more than one NRL club.

"This was a big decision for me and something that I had to think hard about," said Bailey, who has made 287 appearances for the Rhinos since debuting in 2002.

"I would like to thank all the NRL clubs who made offers to me and it was nice to know that they thought I could do a job for them down in Australia.

"However, this is my hometown club and I have spent my entire life here. The club have been loyal to me and I think I have been loyal to them in return.

"Leeds Rhinos are my second family and I am probably happier and more settled now than I have been at any time in my career.

"It was stressful dealing with the contract side of things but that is sorted now and I can look forward to getting back fit and finishing the season strongly."

Leeds coach Brian McDermott said: "Ryan has been huge for this club over a long period and I think it is a big thing for us that he has turned down the chance to go to the NRL to remain at Leeds and in Super League.

"As someone who has come through our academy system, he is a player that our youngsters can look towards and see that the rewards are there for you if you work hard."

Bailey's decision to snub the NRL comes just two days after the Warriors snapped up two 18-year-olds from the Rhinos.

Jordan Baldwinson and Mason Tonks were both out of contract at the end of the season and have agreed to 12-month deals with another year's option to join the Warriors' under-20s team for 2014.


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Source: AAP


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