Great news for him (and us as a club) and what a shirt number to inherit! Good luck to him, he had a great season. www.therhinos.co.uk/m/news/27860.php

Great news for him (and us as a club) and what a shirt number to inherit! Good luck to him, he had a great season. www.therhinos.co.uk/m/news/27860.php

Delighted for our future captain. "The number he's always wanted". I hope he manages to keep relatively injury free for the rest of his career and we get to see the best of him.

He was bigged up so much coming through as a ball playing lose, and inevitably Sinfields successor, now he's done his "apprenticeship" in the back row it'd be nice to see him become more of a pivot player n see more of his ball playing skills. I wonder what his game management is like.

Important to say as well, no pressure from us to be a like for like 13 replacement. He is his own player.

Excellent news and well deserved. Good luck to Stevie for an early return to fitness.

Great news, pleased for him. Hopefully when the rosy glow has abated, we'll remember that he's still learning his trade and cut him the slack he will need from time to time.

Good for him.The logical choice to fill the 13 shirt moving forward

This guy has been a star at every level he has played at. Nicknamed "Kev" at the club for good reason. He is a model pro and I'll keep my fingers crossed that he can put his injury problems behind him and mature into the worthy successor to Sir Kev.

This is really smart for several reasons:
1. Good timing in terms of providing Ward with motivation ahead of his operation.
2. Great news for the team at a quiet period in pre season
3. Distributing the weight of responsibility to take over from Sir Kev between Sutcliffe and Ward
4. Making something tangible of the legacy by providing meaning to the shirt numbers moving forward. E.G younger players aspiring to wear the hallowed 6 and 7 shirt. Who will get 10 etc.
Very astute management.

Galloway no8, Cuthbertson no10 or vice versa would be my guesses.

Really pleased with this news. Ward will be skipper some time soon and lead our club for years.

With rumours that he asked to go to Australia last year then it's (the 13 shirt) perhaps been used as an added incentive for him to see his long term career here and not go to the NRL at some point if they come calling.

Also sends a message to the youngsters that we a building a new core of the team around our academy guys.

I don't claim to be itk guys, but I know for a fact that his Dad, Colin was all set to retire from his job at a printing company and along with Stevie's Mum, they were going to emigrate to Oz because Stevie really wanted to have a crack at the NRL. This is a massive coup for Leeds Rhinos. 5 more years, future captain.

Great news re-5 yr deal but i am surprised he got the 13 shirt given that Singo and Cuthbo have played much more at "13" than SW did.
IF we see his long term future at LF then imo we need another SR asap.

I don't think it's as much the position he will play Rhinoms because he may very well carry on as he has been in the back row on his return, but what the '13' shirt now stands for at Leeds.This is Leeds' way of telling Stevie Ward he is the man to fill Sinfield's boots going forward imo, a big task of course but the right call.

I'd hope he's given the role that goes with the shirt mate he's certainly capable i was just surprised he got the shirt given how the Coach has used him as a battering ram/tackling machine BR.

Yes that's how I've read it as well. As well as Cuthbertson and Singleton I think we're more likely to see Delaney or JJB named at loose if fit before Ward next season.

As time goes by he may well end up starting games at loose. A lot will depend on the squad make-up as the years pass. Obviously we have injury/depth concerns in the 2nd row at the moment so seems logical to keep him there (when he's fit again) and go for Cuthbertson/Singleton at loose.