Wakefield take prop Singleton on loan

Young prop Brad Singleton will continue his playing education at Wakefield Trinity Wildcats after signing on a two-month loan from Leeds Rhinos.

Singleton, 20, joins in time to jet out to Portugal with Richard Agar’s squad on Saturday for a pre-season warm weather training camp.

He has made one substitute appearance for Rhinos in each of the past two seasons but is still significantly down the front-row pecking order for the Super League champions.

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Leeds see the Cumbrian – who played nine times on loan at Dewsbury last season – as a big part of their long-term future, though, and Agar realises the deal will benefit both parties.

“Having spoken with (Rhinos coach) Brian McDermott, I know he is very highly-rated in their set-up,” he said.

“Being with us will probably give him a bit more chance of first-team action. We’ve had one or two injury problems in the front-row, so it’s an opportunity for him to play.

“He will add strength in depth to us and competition for places.”

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Singleton showed his promise by scoring twice against Wakefield in the Boxing Day friendly between the sides and the Wildcats have been keen to strengthen given injuries to props Oliver Wilkes, Kyle Amor and Andy Raleigh.

Leeds chief executive Gary Hetherington said: “Clearly Brad is making really good progress.

“He has come through the ranks and the feeling of the coaching staff is he is now ready to be playing at Super League level, but obviously the Rhinos team is a difficult one to get into for anybody,” he said.

“He will be going to Wakefield for January and February.

“They have got a bit of a crisis in the front-row and from our point of view, we want him to gain some experience and he needs to have a good chance of playing.

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“Our starting line-up is probably not going to be too different from last year, but we are keen to see Brad get as much Super League experience as possible,” added Hetherington.

“Hopefully this move should provide him with that opportunity, at the same time as doing Wakefield a favour in terms of increasing their options in the front-row.”