Senior set for Crusaders after confirming exit from Rhinos

The former Great Britain international reached an agreement with Rhinos to end his 12-year spell at Headingley after a knee injury curtailed the last season of his contract.

Senior, one of three survivors from the inaugural season of Super League in 1996, has no intention of hanging up his boots and is thought to have agreed a two-year deal with Crusaders.

“We have spoken to him but he’s also spoken to a few other clubs,” said Crusaders chief executive Rod Findlay. “He’s been one of the better players in Super League and is a former international. I could imagine there will be a lot of interest.”

Widnes are on the look-out for experienced players ahead of their return to Super League and Wakefield coach John Kear has stated an interest in signing his old Sheffield Eagles player but it is thought Senior has opted to link up instead with former Leeds team-mate Iestyn Harris, the Crusaders head coach.

Senior, 35, joined Leeds from Sheffield in 1999, 12 months after helping the Eagles pull off a shock Challenge Cup final win over Wigan, and has made 365 appearances for them, scoring 171 tries, a tally that leaves him ninth on the club’s all-time list.

Senior, who sustained knee-ligament damage against Harlequins in May and who has been invited by Leeds to play in their Boxing Day friendly, said: “I understand the club’s desire to look to the future and that has freed me up to look at other options as I believe I can still play at least two more seasons in Super League.

“I have enjoyed my time at the Rhinos immensely and will leave having made life-long friends. I hope that I have contributed to not only the success we have had over the past decade but in laying foundations for future success.

“The memories of our 2004 Grand Final and then winning three titles in a row will stay with me forever.”

Senior’s professional career began in 1995 and he won the first of 33 Great Britain caps against Fiji in 1996. He was the first man to reach 500 Super League games and was last year named in the Dream Team for the fifth time. He has scored more Super League tries than any other player (199) and made more appearances in the competition than anyone else (413).