Leeds Rhinos' James Bentley facing extended layoff but coach Rohan Smith reveals better news on Harry Newman

Second-rower James Bentley failed a head injury assessment during last Thursday’s win at Castleford Tigers and won’t feature this week, but Smith is hopeful centre Harry Newman, who needed stitches in a badly cut lip, will be given the all-clear.

Bentley missed the final four games of last season because of concussion and, speaking at his weekly preview press conference this afternoon (Tuesday), Smith confirmed: “James is going to see the consultant this afternoon to get an update and be assessed. We will know more after that, but he came through pretty well after the game.”

The coach added: “There were no immediate headaches or those normal sort of symptoms, which was really good - the best of a worst case. His health will be number one in the short-term.

“It is over six months since the last incident and that’s one of the time frames they look at as far as grading the return to play. We will be guided by the expert after he sees him today.”

Rhinos have no game next weekend, but Bentley is already a doubt for the visit of Huddersfield Giants on Friday, April 19. Smith admitted: “I’d be surprised if he is through his return to play and ready to go by then, but we’ll be guided by what the consultant says in conjunction with our medical team here.”

Rhinos will be without two props, two back-rowers and one who can play both roles this week, which adds extra importance to Newman’s recovery. If the centre is cleared to play that will allow Rhyse Martin to resume his specialist role in the second-row.

“Harry seems to be recovering well,” Smith said. “He got moving in today’s field session. He has taken a decent bang on the lip, but the mouth heals particularly quickly. It was a tremendous-looking stitch job, it looked very clean and tidy the day after the game and now it’s just a matter of it settling down and some of the swelling going out of his lip.

“It is a combat sport and that’s the price you pay sometimes, but he is a tough young kid and he has been making the right noises about playing this week. We’ll go up to Thursday and make a call on that, but it’s looking like he’ll be right to play.”

Other pack men ruled out are second-rower Morgan Gannon (concussion) and suspended prop Justin Sangare. Front/back-rower Leon Ruan and prop Tom Nicholson-Watton are on loan at Betfred Championship clubs.

Ruan can’t be recalled until he has completed an initial two weeks with Doncaster and Smith said there are no plans to bring Nicholson-Watton back from York Knights at this stage. The coach revealed prop Tom Holroyd, who missed last week’s game with an elbow injury, will be back in contention for Friday.

Prop/back-rower James Donaldson, who has not played since picking up a two-match ban in the second game of the season, is also available, along with captain Cameron Smith. He was cleared to play after winning an appeal against a one-match ban.