Leeds Rhinos have already completed some of the finest business in the league ahead of the 2024 Super League season and there has been speculation that the Rhinos may be about to add another name to their list of transfers.
The Rhinos started their recruitment for the 2024 season with a move for Catalans Dragons forward Mickael Goudemand, a move that came out of nowhere and to little fanfare. That said, it is a move that made plenty of sense and saw the Rhinos add depth to their pack.
Next the Rhinos turned to Australia to start the rebuild of their spine signing the likes of Lachie Miller, a former Olympian from Newcastle Knights, and former Huddersfield Giants halfback Matt Frawley from the Canberra Raiders.
Upon the conclusion of the 2023 season, Leeds moved quickly to add the finishing touches to their recruitment. They signed NRL winner Paul Momirovski to replace Nene MacDonald at centre as well as completing their massive double coup for Salford Red Devils pair Brodie Croft and Andy Ackers to take the six and nine jerseys. Recruitment then looked to be complete with the arrival of Kieran Hudson from Castleford Tigers.
However, it was then reported that Leeds were leading the chase to sign Wakefield Trinity winger Lee Kershaw for the 2024 season, something that was quickly shut down with reports confirming the deal as dead in the water.
That was until an image of the Rhinos in pre-season training looked to include Kershaw with Leeds fans getting excited at the prospect of another signing. It has been confirmed that Leeds are working on the basis of one in and one out now in terms of recruitment and the supposed absence of winger Derrell Olpherts in the photo only added to the speculation.
Despite this, Serious About Rugby League are told that Leeds Rhinos have not signed Kershaw so who the man in the image is remains a mystery.
If it is indeed Kershaw then that would suggest that Leeds are working on signing the Wakefield winger but are struggling to find a way to get the deal over the line. The necessity for someone having to leave the club before they can sign Kershaw, such as Olpherts who has already turned down Bradford Bulls and Leigh Leopards, would be the key stumbling block in this scenario.
As of right now, the Rhinos squad is complete and not set to move but the club could be waiting for that first domino to fall.
