Leeds Rhinos have completed their squad for 2024, or so it seems. The Rhinos could still be about to add one or two names to their ranks for the new season.
Many Rhinos fans are still convinced that Leeds are set to sign Wakefield Trinity winger Lee Kershaw who is still yet to agree a new deal at Belle Vue. Kershaw made his first team debut against Leeds on Easter Monday 2019 and has been an excellent servant for Wakefield with his career only hurt by injury.
Wakefield have signed Lachlan Walmsley and Jermaine McGillvary for next year leaving Kershaw as a third choice winger in the Championship making a move to Super League very appealing.
However, at this stage he will not be joining Leeds Rhinos despite speculation that he was pictured training with the squad over the weekend.
But what about one player we know for sure is training with the Rhinos’ squad in the shape of rugby union player Lewis Boyce?
Boyce knows Headingley well having played alongside Kevin Sinfield during his rugby union stint at Yorkshire. The 27-year-old has gone onto bigger and better things since his spell in the the second tier joining the likes of Bath and Harlequins.
He is, however, now without a club and has been training with the Rhinos on trial leading to speculation that Leeds could sign the player. Leeds have exploited the rules about rugby union converts in the past who don’t appear on the salary cap. They did so with Kyle Eastmond in an ill-fated attempt to add halfback cover to their squad in 2021.
Despite this, Serious About Rugby League understands that at this juncture Boyce is unlikely to sign for the Rhinos. A more likely outcome is that he joins a Championship outfit for the 2024 season with Leeds monitoring his progress ahead of a potential move further down the line as he continues his progress.
Some Leeds fans may be disappointed with this given that some feel they need further depth in the pack. The Rhinos lost Sam Walters to Wigan Warriors at the end of last season and have also lost New Zealand international Zane Tetevano. As replacements so far Mickael Goudemand and Kieran Hudson have been brought in but it is unclear if Hudson will be an immediate first teamer after an injury hit spell at Castleford Tigers.
Leeds have awarded Tom Holroyd with the number 10 shirt in 2024 as he joins Mikolaj Oledzki in an exciting front row.
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