When Leeds Rhinos will announce their squad numbers as Blease assesses pre-season

Leeds Rhinos Sporting Director Ian Blease has confirmed when the club will announce their squad numbers for the 2025 season and provided a general insight into camp so far.

It marks the first pre-season under the coaching of Brad Arthur with the Australian having taken over for the final ten games of the 2024 season before signing a one-year extension to tie him down for 2025.

Sporting Director Blease arrived just prior to Arthur and he’s spoken on the Leeds Rhinos YouTube channel about the intensity of the pre-season whilst hailing one major advantage that the club are benefiting from.

Revealing the intense nature, Blease explained: “There are a few niggles in there as a result of the mileage that they’re putting in but they’re going well.”

“It makes a big difference to be able to train on your home ground,” the former Salford man explained with Leeds Rhinos benefitting from an improved turf at Headingley to allow them to train on their own ground.

Blease explained: “The lads are appreciating that and with the new pitch that we’ve now got, it makes it better in terms of the training and running and getting used to the surface.”

Leeds Rhinos to ‘earn’ their shirt numbers on Boxing Day

Not only are the players benefitting from practising and training on the Headingley pitch, but they’re also benefitting from what has seemingly been a highly intense pre-season – undertaken by Arthur, Chev Walker and new coach Jamie Langley.

Blease stated: “They’ve not been run like this for a few years so that’s good to see. They’re in good shape and we’re looking forward to the Boxing Day game.”

Leeds will host Wakefield Trinity on Boxing Day, as is tradition for the two sides to face off, but it’s a game with more meaning in 2024 with Blease explaining that the Rhinos will wait until after the game before confirming squad numbers.

“Brad has got them playing and building up towards that in terms of playing for their shirt,” he said, adding: “Each player is playing for their shirt and that’s what Brad wants them to do.

“I think we’re really keen on making every player earn the right to wear that Rhinos shirt and we’re going to obviously announce the squad (numbers) on New Year’s Day probably and that will make the players play for their shirt on Boxing Day.”

Among those to earn new shirt numbers will be the four signings that the Rhinos have made with Jake Connor, Cooper Jenkins, Keenan Palasia and Leeds legend Ryan Hall all joining for the 2025 season.

All have adapted well, as Blease explained: “Watching the new boys settle in pretty well. The existing squad have welcomed them in really well.”