Key Points
- Leeds Rhinos have confirmed that four more first-team squad members will go out on loan this week.
- Wingers Riley Lumb and Marcus Qareqare, along with hooker Joe Diskin, have joined Hunslet on one-week loans.
- Forward Jacob Stead has returned to Keighley Cougars on a one-week loan.
- Stead has scored two tries in his previous two appearances for Keighley.
- The move comes with no Reserves fixture in the calendar this weekend, giving the club a way to keep players match-ready through Championship rugby.
Leeds Rhinos (The Leeds Times) April 29, 2026, have sent four more players out on loan as the club continues to use the Championship to provide game time for squad members not involved in the first team this weekend. Leeds Rhinos confirmed on 9 April 2026 that Riley Lumb, Marcus Qareqare, and Joe Diskin have joined Hunslet on one-week loan deals, while Jacob Stead has returned to Keighley Cougars on a one-week loan. The Rhinos said the arrangement gives the players valuable experience and game minutes, with no reserve match scheduled this weekend.
Why have the Rhinos sent players out on loan?
As reported by Leeds Rhinos, the loan moves are designed to keep players active and provide added competitive minutes in the Betfred Championship.
Hunslet are due to face Newcastle Thunder at the South Leeds Stadium on Sunday, kick-off 3 pm, and the Rhinos loanees are available to feature. Joe Butterfield is also included in Hunslet’s loan group, although his deal lasts for a month rather than one week.
Which players have gone where?
Riley Lumb, Marcus Qareqare, and Joe Diskin have all linked up with Hunslet for the short term. Lumb and Qareqare are wingers, while Diskin is a hooker. Jacob Stead has gone back to Keighley Cougars, where he is already familiar with the environment after previous appearances for the club.
What do the clubs say?
Leeds Rhinos’ official club report stated that the players are heading out to gain “valuable experience and game minutes” with Kyle Trout’s Hunslet side in the Championship.
The Keighley Cougars announcement, written by Harry Curtis, said Diskin and Stead were available ahead of their round seven clash with Newcastle Thunder. Keighley also noted that Diskin is the son of former Super League Grand Final winner and Great Britain international Matt Diskin, while Stead featured for Yorkshire in the 2025 Academy Origin.
What is the recent loan pattern?
This is not the first time Leeds have used Hunslet as a loan destination for young players this season. In March, Ben Littlewood, Tom Nicholson-Watton, and Presley Cassell were sent to Hunslet on initial one-week deals, and Leeds later reported further loan activity involving their emerging players. The club has therefore continued to treat short-term Championship loans as a regular route for development and match exposure.
Background of this development
Leeds Rhinos have repeatedly used the loan system in 2026 to bridge the gap between academy or reserve rugby and senior first-team opportunities. Earlier reports showed young Rhinos players moving to Hunslet for weekly loans, with some also gaining experience at other Championship clubs. The latest update follows that same pattern, especially when first-team places are limited, and the Reserves do not have a fixture.
Prediction
For Leeds Rhinos, this development is likely to help maintain match sharpness among squad players and make selection decisions easier later in the season. For Hunslet and Keighley Cougars, the loans should add depth and fresh options for their Championship fixtures, while giving the players a chance to build confidence against senior opposition. For the players themselves, the main effect is likely to be more competitive minutes and a clearer chance to press for longer-term involvement at their parent club.
