First Utility Super League leaders Leeds Rhinos have confirmed that Ben Jones-Bishop, 25, will leave the club at the end of his current contract this season.

[urlhttp://www.therhinos.co.uk/news/23023.php[/url


Where to? A SL rival or down under

Sad to see him go but understandable. Good luck to him.

Sad news

How can this surprise anyone?

I've always liked Bish, (I have his debut season shirt in my collection) but you can't expect a player of his standard to watch games from the stands week in, week out.

I, like many on here, was quizzical when we announced we'd signed Briscoe and felt it a little unnecessary and there was only really one nose that was going to get put out.

TBH I'm a little surprised he's staying till the end of the season.

Salford bound?

its a shame, but a player of his calibre is not going to stick around to be just a back up,especially in his prime.

im sure he wont be short on offers and will have his pick of clubs.

Always sad to see a local class player leave. Whatever the reason. Perhaps he feels that he should be playing weekly, rather than being a squad player who has dropped down the pecking order a bit?

Given that Briscoe appears to have lost a bit of his sparkle in the last couple of games, I would have thought there was an opportunity there to impress BMD, and secure his place in the team.

But, as the lad knows himself, injuries can drastically shorten a career, and is simply looking for the best financial deal for himself. Either way, it cannot have been an easy decision, and I wish BJB well.

One thing's for sure. If he stays in SuperLeague, he can expect a barrage of high balls when he plays against us!

This is a shame, but hardly a shock.

Very good player, and I wish him well wherever he ends up.

Wish him all the best.

What's thr craic with this lad, is he primarily fb or wing?

He wants to play full back, unfortunately for him he is a much better winger!!

IMO BJB is the 2nd best English full back in Superleague (after Hardaker) and the 3rd best English winger in Superleague (after Hall & Briscoe). Wherever he goes whether that be another Superleague club, the NRL or over to the darkside I am sure he will be a great asset to that team.

Sad news. I had hoped after Thursday's game that he'd reconciled himself to being part of the rotation at Leeds. A shame that forwards are happy to do this but not backs, although that is the nature of the game I suppose.

He's a good player but with everyone at full potential at the club he's the third best winger at Leeds. Jury still out for me as to whether he is a full back - when I've seen him there he seems to have dropped his fair share of high kicks. Hopefully we won't see him scoring tries for one of our bigger rivals...

Be interesting to see how our union club do in these playoffs. If they get promoted I could see Bish ending up there.

No surprise.

Said for a while my guess would be he'll be lining up in a Salford shirt next year, but if that's the case he'll have to do it on the wing with them signing Locke. Similarly the previously mentioned rumour to Warrington, Matty Russell if going well at FB for them so it would appear a wing spot only available.

In fact if it's a FB starting spot he wants it's hard to see him getting a gig at any of the better teams in the league ATM.

Gutted but totally understand. Will always be a HQ favorite.

Shame to see him leave but not unexpected

Whichever club he goes to will be privileged to have him, a great attacking player

Also raises question how to proceed in terms of rotation rest of the year now that we know he leaving.

Games vs the likes of London, Wakey, Bradford etc where you expect one of the backs to be rested. Do you play BJB or give someone like Ash Handley or Josh Walters a game instead to see how they go as they and the likes of Minns, Duckworth and Keinhorst will be needed to be the back-ups next year.

It would be harsh on BJB but we've got to look towards next year.

Hopefully someone from the juniors is ready to step up and fill bish's role next season. And double hopefully hardaker and Watkins are now going to sign up long term.

I echo the thoughts already expressed: shame but not unexpected despite McDermott's superbly handled attempts at keeping all happy. ( I think I must be possessed at the moment with all the recent accolades )



BJB is a great finisher and has undoubted pace once into his stride but his defensive frailties mean for me he will always be a winger rather than a last line of defence one on one or under the high bomb. Compare and contrast with Hardaker.

For me the club must always put out its best team against the better quality opposition so BJB would remain my first choice back up in case of injury to Hardaker, Watkins, Briscoe etc.
Against the 'lesser' teams yes I would prioritise Handley, Walters etc

Yep! Let's join "the doctor" in breaking the salary cap

. I will be worth it to keep these two

Sums it up perfectly

Sad to see bish go but must have been somewhere on the cards when briscoe signed.
Best of luck to him for the future. Hope he won't come back to haunt us.

What do you mean? Gary Hetherington is a man of integrity, unlike some of the other shower in SL.

It is a great shame always been a good player for Leeds, but would agree better winger than full back, but never let us down when he played as full back. Wish BJB all the best, and hope he changes his mind.

I will believe he will always get a warm welcome when he comes back to play against Leeds.

In all honesty I'm surprised it's taken this long to confirm it publically after all it was the obvious outcome when we signed Briscoe.
Wish him well but like others have said we have better Wingers in front of him and a much better FB.
The depth and rotation in the backs will come from the likes of Minns (next year) possibly Duckworth aswell we still also have Handley who has plenty of pace and is amongst the England squad with Minchella ,Milton and Robbie Ward for next weeks test v France.
With regards to Zak and Kallum I'd happily split the 1st team contract offered to Bish between them and go as far as letting other 1st teamers leave as well to tie them down long term.