Why Leeds Rhinos prospect can thanks basketball legend LeBron James for rise up squad number list

Now 21, Simpson broke into Rhinos’ first team in 2022, playing four times before an ankle injury brought his season to an early end that July. An anterior cruciate ligament rupture the following pre-season, followed by a series of setbacks, meant he didn’t play again for three years, but he was recalled to the Betfred Super League side last summer after just two halves of reserve team rugby and made three appearances towards the end of the campaign.

He showed enough in that time to earn the number 18 jersey for 2026 - up from 26 - and secure a new long-term contract, until the end of 2029. He accepts neither will mean much when it comes to coach Brad Arthur’s team selection, but Simpson is aiming to “make more of a mark” next year.

“I think Danny [Levi, Rhinos’ off-season signing] likes LeBron James, so he wanted 23 and I just got shuffled around a bit,” Simpson said of his new number. “It is pleasing, but Brad is going to pick the best team each week and I don’t think he’s going to care what squad number you’ve got on.”

Simpson had one season left on his previous deal which he signed in 2023, during his long layoff. Discussing his new terms, he added: “I don’t think it makes too much difference to how you play or train, but it is pleasing and confidence-inspiring to get an extended deal after what had happened. I feel like I am in a good place to kick on and try and make a bit more of a mark this year.”

Simpson’s latest contract was announced little more than a week after first-choice centre Harry Newman confirmed he will leave Leeds to join new NRL club Perth Bears when his deal expires next autumn. That will create a vacancy which Simpson is keen to fill.

“Harry was ever-present last year and he has got that off the back of how he was playing, so all credit to him,” he said. “But obviously I have signed a contract and I want to be a starting centre for Leeds.”

He has Newman and captain Ash Handley ahead of him going into 2026, but Simpson’s aim is to play “as much as possible”. He stressed: “I will take what I can get, but I don’t think I’ll be happy with playing a couple of games next year; I want to get a decent run of games if that opens up and try and fight my way into the team and be very close if not. I want to get as much game time in Super League as possible.”

With Newman and Handley not risked, Simpson got an opportunity to start when Rhinos beat Wakefield Trinity 18-10 in the Wetherby Whaler Festive Challenge on Boxing Day. He got through unscathed and reflected: “It was a good run out, I think I’ve been waiting for that for a while.

“I’ve been training fully in pre-season so it was nice to get some miles into my legs in a proper game. The training load [in pre-season] is more than I’ve done for the last three years combined so it can only be a good thing, the more I train and more I play. I feel good.”