Mata’utia made nine appearances on loan for Hull FC
Jeremiah Mata’utia pictured on loan at Hull FC(Image: Dave Lofthouse, Hull FC)
Brad Arthur has confirmed that Jeremiah Mata’utia is expected to leave Leeds Rhinos at the end of the season.
Mata’utia only joined the Rhinos ahead of the 2026 campaign on a one-year deal, but the player has been informed that the club won’t be taking up their option to keep hold of him for another term.
It comes after a frustrating first season at Headingley in which he has spent a chunk of the season on loan at Hull FC. He has made 10 first-team appearances but nine of those have come in the colours of Hull.
His loan in East Yorkshire came to an end this week, though, and Arthur has outlined the challenge he faces in order to pick up more minutes this season at Leeds.
However, the Rhinos boss has also described how he sees his future at Headingley, with Mata’utia set to leave the club.
“Ian Blease has had a conversation with his manager, and at this stage, Jerry is aware we won’t be taking that option up,” Arthur said when asked about Mata’utia’s future at Leeds.
Addressing the short-term and how he sees the forward’s role between now and the end of the season, Arthur added: “It’s a week to week, he has to work hard and train hard. We’re healthy, especially in the forwards and he joins a list of quite a few guys who are just sitting at the moment, waiting.
“Their job at the moment is to train well to make sure they’re ready but also prepare the Super League team on a weekly basis. It’s not just the 17 guys, it’s what we do during the week and the intensity our reserves train at to get us ready. That’s his responsibility and if he gets an opportunity then at least he’ll be ready.
“It’s just about game time, he can train as much as they like but as soon as they get put under fatigue and they have to do it under pressure, there’s no experience like it. That’s been the theme for him.
“At this stage I think he’ll just be with us. We don’t want to be loaning guys out any more moving forward but Jerry’s situation is a touch different because he’s been there previously. As for the rest of them we don’t want to go down that path with 10 games to go.”