Trent Merrin admits he would like NRL return before he retires

Leeds’ marquee forward Trent Merrin has revealed he would like to finish his career back in the NRL.

The 29-year-old made the switch from Penrith Panthers to Super League outfit Leeds Rhinos earlier in the off-season, penning a four-year marquee contract with the club.

And Merrin, who would be 34 by the end of his fourth and final contracted season with Leeds, has admitted that he would like to hang up his boots as an NRL player.

When asked if he would like to return to the NRL one day, Merrin told NRL.com: “Yeah I do, I’d love to retire back home and back to where it all started.

“As a kid, you idolised playing in the NRL and to hang my boots up there would be something that I would look at doing.

“But in the meantime, you’ve got to put your best foot forward here to even get a look in back home, so I’ll be working really hard to make it a good four years here and do the best that I possibly can.”

The former Australia international and New South Wales representative has played two competitive games for the Rhinos in Super League so far.

And Merrin admitted that he is enjoying his time at Emerald Headingley so far.

He added: “They are passionate, they’re a great club and they welcomed me with open arms as soon as I got here so it’s been exciting.

“It’s been a challenge, but it has been everything that I expected it to be.

“They are a young group, we haven’t started off the way we wanted to but we’re learning and it’s a challenge that I’m looking forward to getting stuck into.”