Leeds Rhinos boss Brad Arthur praises "selfless" Ash Handley for major act
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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.
