Leeds Rhinos star’s future in doubt after new development

Leeds Rhinos have busy in the transfer market but it seems the club may be about to sign one or two more players for 2024.

Last week, Serious About Rugby League reported that the Rhinos were interested in Lee Kershaw and now the Yorkshire Post has described them as “front-runners” to sign the 24-year-old Wakefield winger.

This has got people questioning why the Rhinos would move for the elusive winger. From Kershaw’s perspective, the move makes plenty of sense. It is an opportunity for him to return to Super League after Wakefield’s relegation and also if he is going to be a back up winger he may as well be so in Super League. His status as a back up at Wakefield appears inevitable after the signings of Jermaine McGillvary from Huddersfield Giants and Lachlan Walmsley from Halifax Panthers.

But why would Leeds move for the winger? Well part of the reasoning will stem from the loss of Liam Tindall to Hull FC ahead of the 2024 season.

They have also lost Richie Myler recently who although not a winger has strained the cover for the back three further especially when this makes it more likely that Ash Handley will cover fullback.

But ultimately it creates further questions about the future of Derrell Olpherts. The winger has been linked with moves to both Bradford Bulls and Leigh Leopards in recent weeks but Serious About Rugby League previously revealed that Olpherts had no interest in moving to Leigh.

But this move for Kershaw either points to his exit or suggests that he will move down the pecking order which will make game time less likely to come by.

One thing we do know is that he has started pre-season with the club as he has been pictured in pre-season for the Rhinos.

His contract expires at the end of 2024 having signed a two year deal at the club upon signing at the end of 2022 from Castleford Tigers.

He made his name in Super League initially with Salford Red Devils and was unlucky to not play in the 2019 Grand Final against St Helens at Old Trafford.