JOSH Charnley wants to stay in the Betfred Super League beyond 2025 as he eyes the competition try-scoring record, but admits he has no offers on the table at present.
The Leigh Leopards winger scored tries No 250 and 251 of his Super League career in last Saturday’s 28-10 win over leaders Hull KR, putting him nine behind Leeds Rhinos’ Ryan Hall on the all-time list.
Hall, 37, is set to retire at the end of this season and, at three years his junior, Charnley has every chance of setting a new benchmark. However, he admitted neither the Leopards or any other club had made him an offer beyond the expiration of his current deal at the end of this year.
- Mike Eccles: London Broncos Super League talk sends out wrong message
- A bloated 14-team Super League will end in tears
- Subscribe to rugbyleaguehub.com on YouTube
“I’m guessing because I’m 34,” Charnley told The Bench podcast. “[Leigh have] said there might be something there, but there’s nothing really come of it, so I’ve just left [agent] Kev Brown to deal with it.
“I just want to stay in Super League. I’ve had it in my goals for, like, five years now that I want to be the top try-scorer of Super League and I’m pretty close to that.
“Yeah, I’ve not played many games this year and I’ve not really been in the shop window, but I’d go anywhere.
“I’m not fussed about travelling, I just need gametime and I reckon I’ve got a good two years left.”
Charnley’s double against the Robins came in only his second appearance since May 22, having returned to the side in the previous week’s derby win over Wigan Warriors due to an injury to Darnell McIntosh.
The former England international had been linked with a loan move away from Leigh during the time he was dropped from the side after scoring just one try in the opening rounds of the year.
But rumours of a bid from ambitious Betfred Championship club Oldham came to nothing, while he claimed firm loan offers from Catalans Dragons and Charnley’s former club Warrington Wolves were rejected by the Leopards.
Charnley admitted he was frustrated by that, although insisted his relationship with head coach Adrian Lam remained “professional”.
“It’s frustrating not playing, but I kept my spirits high,” Charnley said. “I was still going into training smashing what I can do and not moping around. I’m trying to lead by example.
“If Lammy has got personnel he wants or a way he wants to play and I don’t fit in it, I just want him to be honest.
‘I’ve been in the game long enough that I understand, I’m coming towards the latter end of my career, so if you’re honest with me you’ll get the best out of me.”