McDermott expects Segeyaro to return

Leeds coach Brian McDermott says he expects hooker James Segeyaro to rejoin the club for pre-season training.

Segeyaro has voiced his desire to stay in Australian permanently, despite being contracted to Leeds for 2017.

But McDermott has admitted that the Rhinos have a ‘Plan B’ if the Papua New Guinean forward doesn’t return.

Newcastle Knights hooker Tyler Randall has been mooted by some as a possible replacement.

“We’re expecting him to be back,” McDermott said.

“We made a commitment to James and he made one to us, so we’re expecting him to return.

“I spoke to him on the phone and he expressed some concerns, which I don’t want to say too much about, in relation to coming back.

“We’ve made an obligation to him and he engaged in an agreement with us and they aren’t to be broken lightly.

“If he looks you in the eye, says he’ll be back whenever and doesn’t come, that’s a big thing.

“I feel bad for some of our staff who spent an unbelievable amount of time looking after him.

“It’s disappointing with some of the things he’s said about being here and staring at four walls, which leads people to believe he was brought here and shoved into a concrete room.

“You’ve got to understand how big this is.”