NIC Leeds Rhinos Netball secure exciting talent Ellen Withington for 2027

NIC Leeds Rhinos Netball are delighted to welcome exciting young midcourter Ellen Withington to the club ahead of the 2027 Netball Super League season.

Capable of playing both Centre and Wing Defence, Withington joins the Rhinos after gaining valuable experience in the Netball Super League with Birmingham Panthers and LexisNexis Dragons, where she continued her development as an emerging talent within the league. 

Withington has progressed through some of the country's leading performance pathways. Having started her journey in the Loughborough Lightning pathway, she joined Birmingham Panthers' inaugural NXT Gen squad in 2025, where her consistent performances earned her a Netball Super League debut after being called into the senior squad as a permanent replacement player.

Ahead of the 2026 campaign, Withington returned to Loughborough Lightning as part of their NXT Gen programme before making the move to Dragons, where she featured in 13 Netball Super League matches. Throughout the season she demonstrated her ability to provide energy and intensity through the midcourt, recording 95 feeds, 31 centre pass receives and 11 deflections while continuing to develop her all-round game at the highest level.

Known for her work rate, defensive pressure and ability to transition the ball through court, Withington adds further depth to the Rhinos' midcourt. Versatile across both Centre and Wing Defence, she brings flexibility and a desire to continue learning and developing within a high-performance environment.

Speaking after signing for the Rhinos, Withington said:

“I’m super excited to be signing with the Rhinos. After my conversation with Lauren, her vision and what she sees for not just this season but the future was really exciting and it was something I wanted to be part of. I think we’ve got a really exciting and talented group, and I can’t wait to get stuck in with the girls.”

“Last year was a bit crazy for me because I started with Loughborough Lightning’s NXT Gen programme and then was brought into Dragons about two weeks before the Super Cup, so I was really thrown into it. But I had the best year there and absolutely loved the amount of court time I got playing week in week out.

“That really built my confidence and experience on court. It’s a massive step up from being in NXT Gen and training alongside NSL players to playing week in, week out against the best players. I think that’s what you need to progress, so I felt like I had a really good year, gained some valuable experience and minutes in the NSL, and I’m really excited to continue that.”

“I’m hoping to bring a lot of energy and a high work rate, not just on court but in training as well. I’m passionate about the game and put a lot of work in away from the court too, particularly in the gym.

“In the different positions I play, particularly Centre, I’m on the taller side for a mid-court player, so I think I can bring something a little different. I’m quite calm on the ball in the middle, but defensively I want to bring a lot of pressure, play one-on-one, communicate well on court and just bring that energy and relentlessness.

“I’m super excited to get started. Whenever I’ve played against the Rhinos, they’ve always seemed well put together as a team and the games have always been really competitive, so I’m excited to now be part of that. I can’t wait to get to know the girls, get stuck in and possibly come away with a bit of a Yorkshire accent as well!”

Lauren Palmer added:

“Ellen is a tall, rangy mid-court player and a really exciting, up-and-coming talent. She’s played in the Super League for a couple of seasons now and I’ve really liked her game, so I’m excited to have the opportunity to work with her.

“She offers us that height and range through the mid-court and is more of a defensive-minded centre-court player, which allows her to apply pressure in multiple areas of the court. At the same time, there’s a lot to like about the attacking side of her game. She balances the court really well in attack and has a great ability to feed the shooters.

“Adding someone like Ellen to the group is going to be a big thing for us this year and I’m really looking forward to seeing how she develops within our environment.”