Squad numbers seemingly confirmed for eight Leeds Rhinos stars

Leeds Rhinos are yet to reveal their squad numbers for the 2023 Super League season.

This is likely due in part to the fact that the club haven’t yet secured their centre for the new season who would likely take the number four shirt for next season.

However, as players return for pre-season, plenty of images of Rhinos stars in their training gear are making the rounds seemingly confirming plenty of their squad numbers for the 2023 season.

In an image on Instagram, a bunch of the Rhinos have seemingly been doing some training at a boxing gym.

In the picture are regular first team stars skipper Kruise Leeming, vice-captain Ash Handley, James Donaldson and former Warrington Wolves star Blake Austin.

The three are all set to keep their shirt numbers for 2023. So, Leeming will remain as the number nine, Handley five, Donaldson 25 and Austin six.

The same seems set to be the case for Sam Walters who had a terrific season in 2022. He is pictured wearing the number 22 on his shirt.

Morgan Gannon may also be keeping the 21 shirt though he could have also been upgraded to the number 20. The picture is unfortunately not that clear.

There are promotions in the squad too. Liam Tindall, who has worn the number 29 shirt for two seasons and played two of Leeds’ play-off games in 2022, has moved up to the number 23 shirt vacated by fellow outside back Jack Broadbent who is being linked with a move to Castleford Tigers.

Whilst Jarrod O’Connor is pictured wearing the number 14 vacated by Hull FC signing Brad Dwyer.

He ended the season playing at nine so it makes sense that he would take the reserve nine number.

His former number has gone the way of new signing and former Salford Red Devils and Leigh Leopards man Luis Roberts based on an image circulated yesterday.

Likewise, former York man and new signing Toby Warren has been wearing number 27 in previous pictures, Jack Sinfield has been moved from 32 to 29 and new signing and former Castleford Tigers man Derrell Olpherts seems set to wear 16 which will likely see Richie Myler move to the number one whilst Harry Newman will keep the number three and Tom Holroyd will again be the number 18.

Here’s the squad numbers we know at Headingley.

3 Harry Newman
5 Ash Handley
6 Blake Austin
9 Kruise Leeming
14 Jarrod O’Connor
16 Derrell Olpherts
18 Tom Holroyd
21 Morgan Gannon
22 Sam Walters
23 Liam Tindall
24 Luis Roberts
25 James Donaldson
27 Toby Warren
29 Jack Sinfield