Leeds Rhinos have decided not to appoint a full-time captain for the upcoming Super League season. Rhinos head coach Rohan Smith confirmed there will be no fixed skipper of his side in 2023, instead opting to call on the services of a leadership group who will collectively share the responsibilities associated with being captain.
Kruise Leeming led Leeds out at Old Trafford for last October's Super League Grand Final. But the likes of Cameron Smith, Mikolaj Oledzki and Ash Handley have all held the role during Smith's time in charge too. And that convinced the Australian he had no need to go with one permanent captain.
He said: "We are in a fortunate position to have a young and talented squad with many players who possess some of the typical characteristics you would look for in a captain.
“We have experienced players in key positions within the team who show leadership every time they step onto the field. The challenge is to develop that leadership across the squad. I have always spoken about our team collectively reaching our potential rather than individuals.
"Likewise, just looking at our club’s history, there have been many examples of great leaders within Leeds teams have who have not been captain. We are looking to develop both for the sake of the team not just this season but for the years ahead."
Smith also revealed that his squad have shown to him during pre-season that there is no need for one fixed captain when so many members of his squad have the characteristics required to take on the role.
He said: “I have been proud this off season to see how our players have supported each other whether that is experienced guys mentoring young players or the guys who have been around the first team squad for a couple of years helping our first years.
"We have also been able to share the workload of the captaincy across the squad during the close season. We want everyone to see themselves as a leader to someone and to focus on each individual game. No one person is more important than another."
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