Back wants seniors to set an example at Leeds

Leeds Carnegie head coach Neil Back wants to re-sign his key players to help attract more quality signings to the club for next season.

Marco Wentzel, Ceiron Thomas, Henry Fa’afili, Gareth Hardy, Rhys Oakley and Luther Burrell are some of the 15 players who’s contracts will expire at the end of the season.

“It’s important these guys stay to help attract other players to join us,” Back told BBC Radio Leeds.

“In regards of players internally there will be some announcements shortly.”

The others who will be coming off contract are Leigh Hinton, Mike MacDonald, Phil Nilsen, Danny Paul, Jon Pendlebury, Phil Swainston, Alfie To’oala, Jesus Moreno Rodriguez and Miguel Alonso.

But Back points out: “It’s firmly on the shoulders of the board.

“They have to help communicate a vision that will help those players re-sign.”

Leeds will have difficulty in retaining players at Headingley as they are firmly at the bottom of the Premiership and having won just one match they are favourites to be relegated.

“We are a long way down the road with many players,” said Back.

“But we are not putting any pressure on the players to sign because of the position we are in the league.

“In terms of bring new players, in obviously we are talking to a lot of agents, who represent a number of quality players.

“There are a couple of things that help you recruit. The infrastructure of the club, in terms of the stadium and training facilities and the unique relationship we have with the university and the sports science there.

“It’s also about the players you already have in your squad and the management team you have.

“We are just lacking those one or two quality players that will make the difference.

“So, if I was a back out there and looking at the stats of the platform the forwards provide here at Leeds, you’d want to play behind it.”