Leeds coach Neil Back keen to tie up player contracts

Leeds coach Neil Back brought in 11 new players at Headingley last summer

Leeds Carnegie head coach Neil Back is looking to his key senior players to pen new deals - to help attract quality signings to the club next season.

Marco Wentzel, Ceiron Thomas, Henry Fa'afili, Gareth Hardy, Rhys Oakley and Luther Burrell are among 15 players, whose contracts expire this summer.

And Back told BBC Radio Leeds: "It's important these guys stay to help attract other players to join us.

"In regards of players internally there will be some announcements shortly."

Leigh Hinton, Mike MacDonald, Phil Nilsen, Danny Paul, Jon Pendlebury, Phil Swainston, Alfie To'oala, Jesus Moreno Rodriguez and Miguel Alonso are also out of contract at the end of the season the summer.

But Back points out: "It's firmly on the shoulders of the board.

"They have to help communicate a vision that will help those players re-sign."

A stumbling block for Leeds in their attempts to keep their best players at Headingley remains their league position, sat bottom of the Premiership, having won just once all season.

"We are a long way down the road with many players," said Back. "But we are not putting any pressure on the players to sign because of the position we are in the league.

"In terms of bring new players, in obviously we are talking to a lot of agents, who represent a number of quality players.

"There are a couple of things that help you recruit. The infrastructure of the club, in terms of the stadium and training facilities and the unique relationship we have with the university and the sports science there.

"It's also about the players you already have in your squad and the management team you have.

"We are just lacking those one or two quality players that will make the difference.

"So, if I was a back out there and looking at the stats of the platform the forwards provide here at Leeds, you'd want to play behind it."