Injuries force changes as Leeds Rhinos & Hull FC name 21-man squads for Super League showdown
Leeds Rhinos coach Brad Arthur has made one change to his 21-man squad for Sunday’s game at Hull FC.
Teenage stand-off George Brown drops out after suffering a knee injury during last Friday’s Betfred Challenge Cup defeat at Wakefield Trinity and is replaced by forward Ben Littlewood. First-choice number six Brodie Croft, who was an unused member of last week’s squad and has missed the past two games with a hamstring problem, retains his place.
Recent signing Jack Bird, who can play at centre or in the halves, is named in the 21 for the third successive game and could make his Rhinos debut. Forwards Ethan O’Neill and Jeremiah Mata’utia are also vying for a call into the matchday side.
Rhinos’ squad includes all their top 17 players. Brown and long-term casualties Max Simpson and Alfie Edgell are the only players on their confirmed injury list.
Hull’s initial squad shows two changes to the one named before last Saturday’s Cup loss at Leigh Leopards. Former Rhinos scrum-half Aidan Sezer is ruled out with a pectoral muscle injury and forward Yusuf Aydin has an ankle issue. They are replaced by Will Hutchinson and Ben Johnson
Rhinos’ 21 is: Lachie Miller, Maika Sivo, Harry Newman, Ash Handley, Ryan Hall, Brodie Croft, Jake Connor, Mikolaj Oledzki, Jarrod O’Connor, Tom Holroyd, Kallum Watkins, James McDonnell, Keenan Palasia, Chris Hankinson, Cooper Jenkins, Ethan O'Neill, Cameron Smith, Jeremiah Mata’utia, Danny Levi, Ben Littlewood, Jack Bird.
Hull’s 21 is: Davy Litten, Zak Hardaker, Lewis Martin, Jake Arthur, Amir Bourouh, Harvie Hill, John Asiata, Cade Cust, James Bell, Sam Lisone, Ligi Sao, Tom Briscoe, Arthur Romano, Connor Bailey, Brad Fash, Logan Moy, Matty Laidlaw, Callum Kemp, Will Hutchinson, Will Kirby, Ben Johnson.