Key Points
- Leeds Rhinos forward James McDonnell has agreed to leave the club at the end of the 2026 Super League season to join an NRL side.
- McDonnell will follow current Leeds team-mate Harry Newman in moving to the southern hemisphere after the 2026 campaign.
- The decision comes after McDonnell recently secured a contract extension keeping him at AMT Headingley through to the end of 2026.
Leeds (The Leeds Times) January 10, 2026 – Leeds Rhinos forward James McDonnell will depart the club at the end of the 2026 Betfred Super League season to take up a contract in the NRL, where he is expected to link up with current team-mate Harry Newman in Australia.
According to reporting by Sky Sports and supported by wider Super League coverage, the 25-year-old back-rower has committed to seeing out his existing deal at AMT Headingley before making the switch to the southern hemisphere, marking another high-profile outbound move from Leeds to the NRL following Newman’s previously agreed transfer.
How has James McDonnell’s contract situation evolved at Leeds Rhinos?
Leeds Rhinos recently announced that James McDonnell had signed a new one-year contract extension, ensuring he would remain at AMT Headingley until at least the end of the 2026 season. The club statement described the Ireland international as an “integral” member of the squad, highlighting his work ethic, defensive resilience and leadership within Brad Arthur’s side.
As reported by club media staff of Leeds Rhinos, McDonnell’s extension followed a standout performance in which he scored four tries in a single match against Salford, underlining his growing influence in the team and reinforcing the club’s desire to retain him through the current contract cycle.
What role has James McDonnell played in the Leeds Rhinos squad?
McDonnell joined Leeds Rhinos from Wigan Warriors ahead of the 2023 Super League season and quickly established himself as a first-team regular in the back row. Club reporting and specialist rugby league coverage have consistently noted his strong defensive output and high work rate, with head coach Brad Arthur publicly praising his defensive standards and the example he sets for team-mates.
Coverage of Leeds’ projected line-ups for the 2026 campaign places McDonnell in the starting pack alongside senior forwards such as Kallum Watkins and Cameron Smith, underlining his importance in Arthur’s plans going into what will now be his final season with the club before his NRL move.
Why is James McDonnell considered a key retention and now a significant departure?
Analyses of Leeds Rhinos’ contract landscape for the mid-2020s have repeatedly identified James McDonnell as one of the club’s priority retentions, alongside centre Harry Newman. Rugby league outlets assessing the squad’s long-term shape described securing McDonnell’s services through 2026 as a “no-brainer” for Leeds, given his age, development trajectory and on-field contributions.
His decision to leave for the NRL at the end of that period therefore represents a notable change in the club’s longer-term planning. The move will leave Leeds needing to find a replacement for a starting back-rower who had been regarded as central to their medium-term Super League ambitions.
What does James McDonnell’s NRL move mean for Leeds Rhinos and Harry Newman?
McDonnell’s planned transfer adds to a growing trend of Super League talent heading to the NRL and continues a specific pattern for Leeds, with Harry Newman also set to continue his career in Australia after his time at AMT Headingley. While the specific NRL club for McDonnell has not been detailed in the available reporting, the move is framed as a reunion with Newman in the southern hemisphere, underlining the appeal of the Australian competition for leading Super League players.
For Leeds Rhinos, the departure will require succession planning in the back row ahead of the 2027 season, with recruitment and pathway players likely to come under increased focus as the club seeks to maintain its competitiveness following the exit of two high-profile home-grown or domestically developed talents.
