Wigan Warriors coach provides Kruise Leeming future update amid Huddersfield Giants links

Wigan Warriors coach Matt Peet has confirmed talks are ongoing regarding Kruise Leeming’s future after recent reports linked him with a return to Huddersfield Giants.

In the build-up to Wigan’s 20-8 win over Leigh Leopards last Friday, Sky Sports reported that Huddersfield are interested in signing experienced hooker Leeming, who is currently on a season-long loan at Catalans Dragons from Wigan.

Leeming made the loan move to the Dragons ahead of this season as part of a deal that saw Ollie Partington return to Wigan on a five-year contract.

The 30-year-old hooker linked up with Peet’s side ahead of the 2024 campaign following a short stint in the NRL with Gold Coast Titans, where he played under now Huddersfield boss Jim Lenihan, who had a brief spell as interim head coach of the Titans in 2023.

Leeming played a key role in the all-conquering Wigan side that went on to clinch a historic quadruple in 2024, and made 30 appearances in 2025 before making his loan move to Perpignan at the start of 2026.

The Halifax native is contracted to Wigan until the end of 2027, but Peet confirmed discussions regarding the hooker’s future are ongoing.

“Potentially, I’m not sure where the conversations are up to,” Peet said when asked about Leeming’s future following the recent Huddersfield links.

“Kruise is a Super League-level hooker, a first-team hooker, who deserves to play big minutes.

“He is a player we’ve got a lot of respect for, so at the moment, he is behind certain players in our team and our squad, and there is obviously a salary cap to contend with.

“Those conversations will remain open, but I can’t stress enough how much I and we rate and respect Kruise and the way he’s played ever since I’ve known him really, but particularly since he signed for Wigan.”

Wigan have lost a few players over the last couple of years because of salary cap constraints, but Peet says the current discussions also factor in squad balance, not just finances.

“This isn’t a case of more money,” Peet added. “This is more like it’s very hard for any team to have Brad O’Neill and Kruise Leeming in the same squad with the way you chop your salary cap up, so it’s more testament to the quality of Brad and Kruise.”

Leeming is a product of Huddersfield’s youth system and went on to make 122 appearances for the Giants between 2013 and 2019.

The former England international then enjoyed four seasons with Leeds Rhinos and had a brief spell in the NRL with the Titans before moving to Wigan ahead of the 2024 campaign.