Kirk loaned to Salford but future still lies with Rhinos

Leeds have allowed their young centre, Andy Kirk, to go to Salford on a loan that could last all season. The 20-year-old, who made two Super League appearances last season, will now be part of the City Reds' bid to regain their place in the top flight.

"Andy is an excellent young player who obviously figures in Leeds' long-term plans, but they feel that the chance of first-team rugby with us will enhance his development," said Salford's director of rugby, Steve Simms.

The Leeds chief executive, Gary Hetherington, added that the Rhinos would have the option of recalling Kirk, who was included in their first team squad for the coming season, in an emergency.

"We still see him as a potential Leeds Rhinos player," he said.

Hetherington also denied that Leeds are the club alleged to have made an approach for the Sydney Roosters coach, Ricky Stuart, immediately after their World Club Challenge victory over St Helens. Stuart's manager says that a leading Super League club has made a move for him, but Hetherington is adamant that it is not Leeds. "We have made no contact whatsoever," he said. "We already have a more experienced coach than Ricky Stuart."

Stuart won the Australian Grand Final and the WCC in his first season in charge, while Leeds' Daryl Powell found his coaching job under scrutiny when the Rhinos' form tailed off last year.

Hull's new signing, Dawyne West, will find out tomorrow whether he will miss the whole of another season through injury. West badly twisted his knee in his debut against Halifax in the Challenge Cup 10 days ago, but needs a second scan before he hears whether he needs a reconstruuction. He missed most of last season at St Helens with a shoulder injury.