After progressing through the Tigers academy system, in November 2017 McLelland left the club to cross codes and join Edinburgh Rugby Union.

McLelland said, "Lads in rugby league don’t get opportunities like this, to travel the world and represent your country constantly through the year.

"[6] In August 2018, after less than a year with Edinburgh Rugby Union, McLelland switched codes again and signed for the Leeds Rhinos on a three-and-a-half-year contract for an undisclosed fee.

[3] On 11 October 2021, the Castleford Tigers announced that McLelland would re-join his hometown club on a two-year contract, with an option of a further two years.

[14][15][16] McLelland was assigned the squad number 16 for the 2022 season,[17] although a patella tendon injury sustained while at Leeds persisted and prevented him from making an appearance.

[23] McLelland was named in England's elite under-15s squad in August 2015, captaining and scoring in the 52-12 victory against Wales under-16s at Taffs Well.

[26][8] In October 2019, McLelland was named in Scotland's 22-man squad for the European qualifiers of the 2021 Rugby League World Cup.