Segeyaro-Lewis swap is ‘a made-up story’

Leeds Rhinos chief executive Gary Hetherington has described as fiction reports linking the club with Cronulla Sharks’ 33-year-old second-rower Luke Lewis.

According to media Down Under, Leeds are interested in signing Lewis – who has played 16 times for Australia and made 17 State of Origin appearances with New South Wales – in exchange for hooker James Segeyaro.

But Hetherington said that is a “made-up story”. He insisted: “That is entirely fictitious, there is absolutely no foundation to that at all.

“There’s been absolutely no discussions or any contact from Cronulla about Lewis or anything at all.”

Lewis led the Sharks to their first premiership with a man-of-the-match performance to claim the Clive Churchill Medal.

Following his grand final exploits, the 33-year-old forward was rewarded with a one-year deal for 2017 last November.