Myler heads for Rhinos
RICHIE MYLER will join Leeds Rhinos from Catalans on a three-year deal from next season after admitting that the opportunity was “too good to turn down”.
The 27-year-old scrumhalf, who is married to television presenter Helen Skelton, began his career at Widnes and had spells with Salford and Warrington.
He moved to Catalans at the start of last season but will join Brian McDermott’s side in 2018 with Headingley legend Danny McGuire expected to retire at the end of this campaign.
Myler has won six England caps and hopes the switch to Yorkshire will reignite his international career.
He said: “I’m delighted to have signed for the Rhinos and can’t wait to get started when I join up with the boys at the end of the season.
“It is the perfect move for me and my family and we are all very much forward to it.
“I had a number of chats with Brian McDermott about the direction the club is going in and his thought process about what I could offer to the Rhinos.
“It was important to know the way the team is going and that Brian wanted me as part of that. It was really appealing to me and the best fit for me as a player.
“Leeds is a big club and a club that is always fighting for silverware and at the top of the league.”
Myler has proved a success at Catalans but, with his wife having recently given birth to their second child, a move back to the UK suits him perfectly.
He scored two tries for Catalans in their defeat at Warrington last Saturday.
“I have loved my time in the south of France,” he said. “It is a beautiful part of the world and Catalans Dragons have been amazing looking with me and my family.
“We have made friends for life and I have enjoyed my time in Perpignan. But it is now the right time for us to move home to England and this was the best opportunity for me.
“This was the one that I was really excited about and when the chance came to join the Rhinos it was too good an opportunity to turn down.”
Meanwhile, Castleford have secured the permanent signing of on-loan Leeds and England full-back Zak Hardaker.
The Super League leaders have paid Leeds a fee of £150,000 and Hardaker has signed a contract until the end of 2021.
Hardaker said: “I’ve fully enjoyed my time here so far and we have a couple of exciting years ahead of us. It was an easy decision to stay here once I got the offer.”