Widnes Vikings are pleased to announce the arrival of half-back Leon Hayes on loan from Warrington Wolves.
The 22-year-old playmaker has already registered 13 Super League appearances and put in a match-winning performance in the Championship for Salford last week, kicking the decisive drop goal in a win over Batley.
Known for possessing a good running game and a strong kicking game, he goes straight in to contention for Sunday’s 1895 Cup game at Dewsbury Rams and met his new team-mates for the first time at training this evening.
Head Coach Allan Coleman said: “We’re really excited to bring Leon in. He fits our DNA of how we want to play. He’s got a good running game and a really strong kicking game.
“We’ve been an admirer of his for a while and we’ve tried a few times to get him on board so we’re pleased to get him in. We’ve got him for a period of time, obviously Warrington may need him at some point, but he’s with us for the forseeable and he’s desperate to play good rugby which is important to him and to us.
“Already from the conversations we’ve had with him, it gives us excitement about how he wants to play and the way we want to play too.”
Hayes made his Super League debut in 2022 at the age of 18 and was handed the number seven shirt at Warrington for 2025.
He said: “I’m really excited. I’ve met the lads and they seem to be a good group so looking forward to getting going. The Championship is a great competition and it’s massive to get the opportunity to play.
“Widnes is a really good club who have dreams and ambitions of their own and I want to add to that. I was supposed to come here in 2024 and ended up in the first team, so the club has always been around and somewhere on my radar, so I’m here now and looking forward to it.”
Leon Hayes will be sponsored by Roger Reeves and Joe Lloyd.
