Blake Austin signs Leeds Rhinos contract extension

Drew Darbyshire
Blake Austin Leeds

Great Britain international Blake Austin has agreed an option in his contract to remain at Leeds Rhinos for the 2023 season.

The 31-year-old has only missed two games for the Rhinos since arriving at Headingley from Warrington ahead of this season.

After joining on an initial one-year deal, Austin has taken up the option of a second year at Leeds.

Austin said: “I am pleased to be staying at the Rhinos.

“I am a father of four young children and my family are really beginning to feel at home here in Leeds. It was a tough start to life here at the club but we are all pulling together and I think good times are ahead for us.”

Blake Austin hails new coach Rohan Smith

The Rhinos lost to Salford in Smith’s first game as head coach. However, since then they have secured back-to-back wins – against Wakefield and Warrington.

Leeds showed glimpses of the Rhinos of old on Friday night as they hammered Warrington 40-4 at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.

And Austin is loving playing under the new man at the helm.

He said: “I have enjoyed working with Rohan Smith. Everyone I spoke to, who knew him from Australia, held him in high regard. He is having a big influence on the squad overall.

“I think Jamie Jones-Buchanan deserves a lot of credit too for the work he did whilst he was in charge. Rohan has built on that and the team are playing with a smile on their face because of the confidence we take into matches from the hard work we are doing in training.”

The Rhinos will look to make it three wins on the spin when they travel to neighbours Huddersfield on Friday night.

Leeds currently sit eighth in the Super League table, having won five games from 14 so far in 2022.