GEORGE BROWN has signed a new long-term deal with Leeds Rhinos that will see him stay at the club until the end of the 2029 Super League season.
A product of the Rhinos pathway, Brown made the step up to first-team rugby this season, debuting in March for the Rhinos in the Challenge Cup win over Widnes Vikings.
The 19-year-old has made four appearances for Leeds during the 2026 campaign, scoring three tries.
Upon signing the contract extension, Brown said: “I am really pleased to have agreed a long term deal with the club and I would like to thank Brad Arthur (Leeds head coach) and Ian Blease (Leeds’ sporting director) for having faith in me.
“As our transition coach, Chev Walker’s influence has been a huge boost to me too. We got to both Grand Finals last year with the Academy and Reserves and I am excited to be part of this group going forward in the next few years. I would also like to thank all the lads in the squad who have helped me and made me feel at home in the first team squad.
“We have got players who have been around Leeds for a long time and they really want to win something. You can see how ambitious the club is and striving to win things. For us as young boys coming through, that’s a great influence on us and shows how high the standards are.”
Leeds head coach Brad Arthur said: “George is a young player we are excited about and one who we believe has a very bright future at this club. What has impressed me most since I arrived is the rate of his development. He’s probably progressed quicker than I expected and every opportunity he’s been given, he’s handled really well.
“We haven’t seen as much of him as we would have liked because of his knee injury, but the signs have been very encouraging. You could see his confidence growing with every game and every experience he had around the first-team environment.
“George is a player who suits the way we want to play. He’s tough, he defends well, he runs the ball strongly and he’s got a competitive edge that you need at this level. He’s got some similarities in his style to Brodie Croft, but he’s also got his own strengths and qualities that will continue to develop over time.
“We’re proud of the pathway we’ve built at Leeds Rhinos and George is a great example of that. We believe in our system, we believe in our coaches and, most importantly, we believe in the young players coming through. George has earned this opportunity and everyone at the club is excited to see what he can achieve in the years ahead.”