Leeds Rhinos have secured England international Joe Greenwood on a two month loan deal from Wigan Warriors with immediate effect.

Greenwood is yet to feature in the Betfred Super League for Wigan this season but made 21 appearances last season for the Cherry and Whites. Originally from Oldham, he made his Super League debut with St Helens in 2012, spending five seasons with Saints before a move to the NRL with Gold Coast Titans in 2017. At the Titans who played 22 games, scoring four tries, but signed for Wigan mid-way through 2018 and making his debut against Leeds. He went on to score four tries in 11 appearances in his debut campaign for Wigan, including featuring in the Grand Final triumph over Warrington Wolves.

That year he earned a call up from Wayne Bennett to the England squad making his Test debut at Elland Road in the third Test against the Kiwis. He was part of the England Knights squad last October, scoring in the 38-6 win over Jamaica at Emerald Headingley.

Commenting on the 6’4” former Saddleworth Rangers players, Director of Rugby Kevin Sinfield said, “We are pleased to have brought in a player of Joe’s experience to bolster our pack. I would like to thank Wigan for their co-operation in making the move possible and we look forward to welcoming Joe into our group. He is a player with undoubted potential having played in the NRL and for some of the biggest clubs in Super League. I look forward to seeing how he complements our existing squad.”

Greenwood will be available for selection for this Friday’s Betfred Super League clash with Warrington Wolves at Emerald Headingley. The 26-year-old commented, “It is an exciting challenge for me and I can’t wait to get started. Like Wigan, Leeds is a club with a tremendous history and, when the opportunity came from Kevin Sinfield and Richard Agar, it was one that I was willing to take. I am fit and ready to go and looking forward to meeting the Leeds lads this week.”

Having only previously featured for St Helens and Wigan, Greenwood will also play for a Yorkshire club for the first time in his career with a move to Emerald Headingley however the forward has revealed another Oldhamer, who made the same move he is doing now, was his childhood inspiration. He added “I am from Saddleworth so we are on the Yorkshire border. I used to support Leeds when I was little, I had Barrie McDermott’s name on the back of my shirt, I suppose it is funny how things turn out. This is a great opportunity and I hope I can bring something to the club from my own game.”

The Rhinos have also confirmed that centre Rhys Evans has returned to Bradford Bulls for one month having joined Leeds for the season from the Bulls at the start of the campaign.