Good news and bad news - boss Richard Agar issues Leeds Rhinos injury update

Walker underwent surgery after suffering a foot injury in Rhinos’ 36-0 win over Warrington Wolves on February 28.

He has missed only one game so far and was hoping to be available when rugby league resumes after the Covid-19 shutdown, but coach Richard Agar is taking a cautious approach.

Leeds’ first game back is against Huddersfield Giants on Sunday, August 2 and Agar said: “Jack is back running again.

“He has had the pin out of his foot, but we probably expect him to be a month after we get back.”

Walker is Rhinos’ only specialist full-back, but half-back Richie Myler, who replaced him against Warrington and started in Leeds’ win over Toronto Wolfpack the following week, could continue at full-back.

Hooker Kruise Leeming, signed from Huddersfield in the off-season, is on track to make his Rhinos debut against his previous club.

Leeming has not played since suffering knee damage in training just before last Christmas, but Agar confirmed: “He is close to being good to go.

“Obviously he is going to be down on match fitness and stuff like that so we will assess him when we get back to see how close he is and what we need to do with him, but he will be very, very close to playing.”

Utility-player Liam Sutcliffe has had surgery on a knee injury and Agar said: “He is going well and progressing.

“He will be ready for the first game.”

The coach confirmed skipper Stevie Ward, who has been sidelined since the opening week of the season because of a head injury and prop Dom Crosby (knee) both remain on the injury list and described their absence as “indefinite”.

Crosby missed the whole of last season and has yet to play in 2020.

Revised Super League fixtures are set to be issued next week. Rhinos’ players and staff will be tested for coronavirus in small groups on July 8 and 9 and – if they get a clean bill of health – will report in to resume full, organised training on Monday, July 13.

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