Leeds Rhinos frontrunners to sign Wakefield Trinity winger Lee Kershaw

Kershaw has been in talks with Wakefield about renewing his contract but now appears set to leave Belle Vue.

The Yorkshire Post understands the Rhinos are the frontrunners to sign the 24-year-old as they reshape Rohan Smith's squad after a disappointing eighth-place finish in 2023.

Kershaw made his Super League debut for Trinity in 2019 and has gone on to score 18 tries in 50 appearances.

He crossed seven times in 17 games last season, including a double in a losing cause at Leigh Leopards the night Wakefield were relegated from Super League.

Trinity have strengthened their wing stocks with the signings of Jermaine McGillvary and Lachlan Walmsley as they prepare for life in the Championship.

Leeds, meanwhile, are on the lookout for a senior back-up for first-choice wingers Ash Handley and David Fusitu'a with Olpherts seemingly on his way out after just one season at the club.

The 31-year-old joined the Rhinos from Castleford Tigers on a two-year deal but struggled in his debut campaign, scoring four tries in 14 matches.

Olpherts, who started out in Super League with Salford Red Devils before spending three years at Castleford, has recently been linked with Challenge Cup winners Leigh.

Young winger Liam Tindall has already left Headingley since the end of last season.

Leeds have made seven signings for the 2024 campaign, including the double capture of Brodie Croft and Andy Ackers from Salford.

The Rhinos are exploring all avenues on the recruitment front, with ex-Premiership rugby union forward Lewis Boyce training with Smith’s squad at the start of pre-season.

The 27-year-old – a Yorkshire Carnegie academy graduate – has been a free agent since leaving Ealing Trailfinders at the end of the 2022-23 campaign.

As first reported by Love Rugby League, the former Harlequins and Bath prop has been given the chance to impress Leeds boss Smith.

Rhinos chief executive Gary Hetherington said: “He doesn’t have a rugby union club at the moment, he is out of contract and so free to do whatever he wants.

"His agent contacted Rohan who invited him to come and train on a week-to-week basis.

"It’s nothing more permanent than that at the moment and we’ll just see how it goes with him.

"Rugby league has always appealed to him and he is now free to have a go if he wants.”

Boyce, who earned an England call-up in 2018, becomes the latest union player to try his hand at league with the Rhinos.

Welsh winger Kyle Evans and forward Huw Worthington are among the players that have trained at Kirkstall in recent years.

Boyce has the opportunity to become the first to land a contract during his trial at Leeds.