O’Brien, who joined Leigh at the end of 2022, is off-contract at the end of this season. But Love Rugby League understands the 32-year-old utility has agreed to stay put and to a one-year deal with the Leopards.
O’Brien is another existing player the Leythers will keep for 2025, along with wingers Josh Charnley and Umyla Hanley, and forwards Matt Davis and Jack Hughes.
Leigh have lost loose forward John Asiata to Hull FC for next year, with the Australian agreeing a three-year contract with the Black & Whites. Back-rower Oliver Holmes is also set to join Asiata in East Yorkshire next season.
However, the seasoned O’Brien—who can play stand-off, scrum-half, and fullback—will be residing in Leigh Sports Village. The Warrington Academy graduate has made six appearances for the Leopards this season, with five try assists and one try score.
He tore his calf in early April, which has kept him off the pitch. It is anticipated that O’Brien will be fully recovered and eligible for selection by the end of May.
O’Brien played for the Red Devils for two and a half seasons, during which he kicked the winning extra-time drop goal in the Million Pound Game that sent Hull KR to the lower leagues.
Before the Canadian team’s demise in 2020, he played 55 games with the Toronto Wolfpack after being sold to them on March 18. Before moving to Leigh at the end of 2022, O’Brien played 28 games for the Tigers while on loan at Castleford in 2022.
The fullback assisted the Leopards in winning the Challenge Cup the previous season. The team won its first championship since 1971 when he started as the top jumper in the Wembley final.
