The full back in game 1? Or, is it was "rugby" then rather than what became rugby league, would it be the loosehead prop, in modern numbering anyway.

Maybe not, it could be the first player to sign a professional contract with the club who then went on to play for the first team

I asked.

Harry Kershaw was full back.
He has heritage number 1

The club historian has indeed done the Heritage numbers
A lot of work too .....

Number 1 is a bloke called Harry Kershaw ... he was full back in our very first game. There were 15 players in those days, thus 2-15 were the players behind him although forwards didn't have set positions then. Every new debutant gets the next number

Indeed Steve Ella is no.1000 and our last one was Lee Gilmour (1345)

So the numbers wasn't like union in those days then? Eg full back at 15

Rugby Union teams have reversed numbers but full back is still top of the team sheet.

He went to school with Snowie...I think!!