Leigh Leopards kickstart recruitment drive with Castleford Tigers forward

While Leigh Leopards have been linked with a lot of outgoings recently, they have been busy signing players of their own. The departure of John Asiata has already been confirmed by Hull FC, Adrian Lam is also reportedly being courted by the Black and Whites and it has now emerged that Oliver Holmes could be on his way to West Hull too.

However, the Leopards are also working on retaining, and signing, many players of their own. They have already announced a new deal for Umyla Hanley while further retentions are expected, with Josh Charnley and Gareth O'Brien among the players expected to extend their stay at Leigh Sports Village.

But recruitment has already started too. Among their new additions are Brad Martin, the Castleford Tigers forward who is understood to have signed with the Leopards next season. The 23-year-old, who has played six Super League games for the West Yorkshire club this season, is believed to have decided to leave the Tigers some time ago and has now decided to join last year's Challenge Cup winners.

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Meanwhile, Leigh owner Derek Beaumont has revealed that clubs have agreed to remove the May 1st deadline in place, after admitting no club abides to it. Technically, clubs are not allowed to discuss contracts with off-contract players until that date, though it's well known that negotiations take place months before. That is now set to change.

"The May 1st deadline is a completely pointless thing and actually, we all agreed as clubs, CEOs and owners at the latest meeting that we should just eradicate that and it's fair game once a player goes into the final year of their contract that people can start negotiating because it's what happens anyway.

"It just seems odd to have this rule that makes you feel like you're doing something naughty when you're doing something naughty, and you're going to be disadvantaged if you're not doing something naughty.

"That's being removed but it was always a deadline you worked towards, so Chezzie (Chris Chester) would be on with getting players done. We've signed players we've not announced, there's a player that's been signed from here that's not been announced because the correct etiquette around it is that the business remains private, if it gets leaked you don't respond to it or acknowledge it."