Latest St Helens v Leeds Rhinos team news and 21-man squads

Coach Rohan Smith has paid tribute to “great club man” James Donaldson who is one game away from a Leeds Rhinos milestone.
By Peter Smith
Published 28th Jul 2023, 06:00 BST
Updated 28th Jul 2023, 11:03 BST
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The 31-year-old forward joined Rhinos ahead of the 2019 season and has played 99 games for the club.

He is back in contention for tonight’s Friday) game at St Helens and Smith said: “Donno is a great club and team man.

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“He puts the team first, that’s the way he plays. He is happy to do the hard work and go unnoticed at times, but he is very well respected and appreciated throughout our group. The players and coaching staff all appreciate the work he does.”

James Donaldson's next Rhinos appearance will be his 100th. Picture by Ed Sykes/SWpix.com.James Donaldson's next Rhinos appearance will be his 100th. Picture by Ed Sykes/SWpix.com.
James Donaldson's next Rhinos appearance will be his 100th. Picture by Ed Sykes/SWpix.com.

Donaldson, who is out of contract in November, missed Rhinos’ last game - against Hull KR 14 days ago - after a head injury at Salford the previous week.

“He has trained really well and gone through all the concussions protocols pretty well, step by step all the way,” Smith said. “He has done a bunch of training with the extra week off, so he is in good shape.”

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Luke Hooley, who has been playing on dual-registration with Batley Bulldogs, has also been drafted into Leeds’ initial squad. Luis Roberts and Leon Ruan retain their place after not featuring in the previous game.

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Saints will be without five forwards from last week's team, including Sione Mata'utia who is suspended after being sin-binned in the Challenge Cup semi-final loss to Leigh. Picture by Olly Hassell/SWpix.com.Saints will be without five forwards from last week's team, including Sione Mata'utia who is suspended after being sin-binned in the Challenge Cup semi-final loss to Leigh. Picture by Olly Hassell/SWpix.com.
Saints will be without five forwards from last week's team, including Sione Mata'utia who is suspended after being sin-binned in the Challenge Cup semi-final loss to Leigh. Picture by Olly Hassell/SWpix.com.

Smith said stand-off Blake Austin, who failed a head injury assessment against Hull KR, is “in good shape and ready to go”, so Rhinos could be unchanged.

Saints are without five of the 17 beaten by Leigh Leopards in last Saturday’s Betfred Challenge Cup semi-final, all of them forwards.

Joey Lussick has left the club to join Parramatta Eels, Sione Mata’utia is suspended and Alex Walmsley, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook and Agnatius Paasi drop out because of injury.

Another pack man, Morgan Knowles, is in doubt, but James Roby and Mark Percival are back in contention after injury and Moses Mbye, signed from St George-Illawarra Dragons, could make his debut.

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Dan Norman, Sam Royle, Lewis Baxter, Matthew Foster, Taylor Pemberton and Wesley Bruines are other players in contention for a call into the 17.

St Helens: from Welsby, Makinson, Hopoate, Percival, Lomax, Dodd, Roby, Lees, Knowles, Bell, Norman, Davies, Royle, Hurrell, Baxter, Ritson, Foster, Pemberton, Delaney, Bruines, Mbye.

Leeds Rhinos: from Myler, Fusitu'a, Macdonald, Handley, Austin, Sezer, Oledzki, Bentley, Martin, Smith, O’Connor, Lisone, Sangare, Holroyd, McDonnell, Hooley, Walters, Roberts, Donaldson, Johnson, Ruan.

Referee: Liam Moore (Wigan). Kick-off: Friday, 8pm.

Related topics:Luke HooleySt HelensBlake AustinRhinos