England winger and Leeds Rhinos co-captain Ash Handley has sacrificed his No5 shirt for the return of Leeds legend Ryan Hall with Brad Arthur singing his praises
Boss Brad Arthur praised “selfless” Ash Handley – after he numbered down for the Leeds cause.
The England winger and co-captain has given up his No5 jersey for the return of Rhinos legend Ryan Hall. He instead takes the No4 shirt vacated following Paul Momirovski’s departure as the club revealed their squad numbers for the 2025 Betfred Super League campaign.
It also hints at a possible switch back to centre for Handley who played there in the Boxing Day friendly win over Wakefield and briefly earlier in his Headingley career. The 28 year-old, who made his Test debut in 2023, had been Rhinos’ No5 ever since Hall initially left for Sydney Roosters in 2019.
Aussie Arthur said: “The squad numbers system is something that was new to me from the NRL. But I understand it is part of the game in Super League. I think the selfless attitude of Ash Handley in changing his number in his testimonial year typifies where we are as a group.
“The players know the squad numbers don’t guarantee anything but it does mark another step towards the start of the season.”
As well as England’s greatest-ever tryscorer Hall returning to Headingley from Hull KR, Leeds also signed Parramatta wideman Maika Sivo. He takes the No2 shirt but ex-England centre Jake Connor only manages to claim No18 following his arrival from Huddersfield. Rhinos’ other new signings are Samoa prop Keenan Palasia (No10) and Aussie front-row Cooper Jenkins (No17) while James McDonnell is promoted to No12 after Rhyse Martin’s move to KR.
Leeds, who take on Wigan in Handley’s testimonial on Sunday January 26, revealed 26 squad numbers for all players who have already made their debut and gained a club heritage number. Four more – Fergus McCormack, Presley Cassell, Toby Warren and Jack Smith – are part of the full-time squad but will only be given a squad number when called into the matchday squad during the season.
Rhinos sporting director Ian Blease said, “As we mentioned before Christmas, Brad was keen to only confirm the squad numbers after the Boxing Day game. We are pleased with the squad we have assembled for 2025 and I am sure those younger members of the squad will aspire to gain their squad number this season too, especially those who did so well in the second half in the Wetherby Whaler Festive Challenge.”
Full Leeds Rhinos squad
1 Lachlan Miller
2 Maika Sivo
3 Harry Newman
4 Ash Handley (CC)
5 Ryan Hall
6 Brodie Croft
7 Matt Frawley
8 Mikolaj Oledzki
9 Andy Ackers
10 Keenan Palasia
11 James Bentley
12 James McDonnell
13 Cameron Smith (CC)
14 Jarrod O’Connor
15 Sam Lisone
16 Morgan Gannon
17 Cooper Jenkins
18 Jake Connor
19 Tom Holroyd
20 Jack Sinfield
21 Alfie Edgell
22 Tom Nicholson-Watton
23 Riley Lumb
24 Ben Littlewood
25 Ned McCormack
26 Max Simpson
