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Leeds Rhinos expect to make a signing this weekend with sporting director Ian Blease offering an update that reveals the club are still targeting at least two signings ahead of 2027. The Rhinos have made two signings for 2027 so far with former Leeds player Morgan Gannon returning to the club after a year with the New Zealand Warriors, whilst the versatile Dylan Walker will also be arriving from the NRL. Gannon appears to be a like-for-like replacement for the outgoing James McDonnell, whilst Walker covers almost all the positions that Leeds are losing with the ex-State of Origin man adept in the centres, halves, front-row, or at loose forward. As well as losing McDonnell to Perth Bears, Leeds also have England internationals Harry Newman and Mikolaj Oledzki heading to the incoming NRL club, whereas Brodie Croft will make the cross-competition switch to Warrington Wolves. Meanwhile, Cameron Smith will join Wakefield Trinity and such major departures will be met with more signings, with Blease speaking on the Leeds Rhinos’ podcast to announce an imminent signing. “I think we’ve got one over the line this weekend, just waiting for the contract to come back,” Blease revealed. “Then there will be probably be another forward and another outside back as well, all being well.” Super League’s IMG nightmare, Hull FC hit new lows, and League Leaders Shield debate – Click here to watch the latest episode of the Serious About Rugby League Show! Leeds Rhinos recruitment update as youth policy affirmed That would suggest a further three signings in addition to Walker and Gannon and it could well be that Leeds are able to replace each departing senior player like-for-like, with Blease admitting that knowing who was leaving has made recruitment easier. “We’ve known for a while which positions we’ve needed to backfill so it’s not a surprise to us and we’ve been doing a bit of work over the last few months on that,” he explained. Blease also affirmed Leeds’ desire to stick to their policy of promoting youth with Brad Arthur previously suggesting that youngster George Brown will ‘get every opportunity’ to serve as Brodie Croft’s replacement. On the club’s focus on youth, Blease said: “We’ve got one eye on our succession plan as well, we’ve seen some of that come into fruition this year with Ben Littlewood coming in, Zak Lloyd making his debut last week, Alfie (Edgell) and Riley (Lumb) coming through on the wings, and Presley (Cassell) has made a great impression this year. “We’ve got our eye on that as well and there a few other young guns coming through that we’ve got our eye on for next season as well.” He also spoke about the chances of an immediate recruit for the 2026 season given that the deadline for signings is August 21st, noting: “It’s a busy time looking just in case we can strengthen this year. “We’ve been doing a bit of that over the last couple of weeks and have a couple of weeks left to do something, so hopefully we might get something over the line, if we choose to do that. “The boys are going well so it’s got to be the right person to come and take a shirt off somebody.”