Ryan Hall eyeing Leeds survival before leaving for Australia
England winger Ryan Hall has set himself the task of ensuring Leeds' survival in Super League before he leaves for Australia.
The 30-year-old will end a 12-year career with his home-town club at the end of the season after signing a two-year contract with NRL club Sydney Roosters.
Hall is hoping to bow out with a third Challenge Cup winners' medal - they face Warrington in the semi-finals on Sunday week - but his priority is help them avoid relegation to the Championship after their bottom-four finish condemned them to the Super 8s Qualifiers.
Leeds' fate was confirmed over the weekend when Huddersfield, Catalans Dragons and Wakefield all posted crucial victories to ensure their top-eight places and came as no shock to Hall.
"You want to be in control of your own destiny and we haven't been good enough to get that control," he said.
"It's something we've got to live with and I've to make sure the Rhinos are in good shape for when I leave, I want to leave them with their Super League status and obviously there is still a bit of silverware on offer."
Hall insists the reigning champions' fall from grace in 2018 played no part in his decision to leave and concedes it was now or never if he was to realise his dream of playing in the NRL.
"I've always wanted to have a try and it was my first opportunity, coming out of contract," he said.
"I've been here 12 years now so it's the last-chance saloon really.
"Obviously I'm not just going for a holiday - like some people might say - because I'm getting on a little bit, I'm really going to try and achieve something over there."
Hall, England's most prolific scorer of all time with 35 tries in 38 Tests, says he had the pick of several NRL clubs but insists a move to rugby union was never an option.
"I love it when people make up stuff," he said.
Meanwhile, another out-of-contract player, centre Jimmy Keinhorst, has confirmed he has also sorted out his future for 2019 but declined to reveal his destination.
Keinhorst made his comeback from injury in the Rhinos' 34-0 win over Widnes last Friday and says his focus remains with them despite being named in Germany's squad for their forthcoming 2021 World Cup qualifiers against the Czech Republic and Norway.
"It's nice to be named in the team again but it all depends on what I'm doing here," he said. "I'll speak to (director of rugby Kevin Sinfield) Kev.
"I think they've got a game on the Challenge Cup final weekend so it depends on where we are with that and another one in mid-September.
"If we win those two games it will lead into another group and take that next step towards qualification.
"Hopefully they can put out the best team they can. They've just finished their domestic league - I've been following that - and hopefully they've made some progress and that's good to see.
"If I link up with them, that will be great and I'll look forward to that but my priority is with Leeds."
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