Leeds Rhinos player ruled out of Wakefield Trinity game but two set to return

Rhinos maintained their two-point lead at the top of Betfred Super League with a 46-0 home win against Toulouse Olympique last night. Wigan Warriors won at Leigh Leopards to move above Trinity into second place, but Wakefield play their game in hand at Catalans Dragons this evening (Saturday).

Skipper Ash Handley has missed Leeds’ last three matches after having his appendix removed and coach Brad Arthur confirmed in his post-game press conference: “Ash will be back this week.”

However, rookie centre Ned McCormack - who came into the side against Toulouse to make his first Super League appearance for Leeds this term - failed a head injury assessment and is ruled out of next week’s game. He received a late call up in place of Alfie Edgell, who is expected to be fit for the game at Belle Vue.

Arthur explained: “Alfie was in the team at the start of the week. He just got a bit tight around his hamstring, but he has trained today and he is fine. He is only two games back [from a long layoff] and he has a pretty chequered injury past so we just thought it was safer to not play him.”

Winger Ryan Hall, who has missed the last four matches, is “touch and go” for next week, Arthur added. Maika Sivo, Danny Levi and Keenan Palasia remain on the casualty list, but the coach is hopeful Rhinos picked up no other major injuries last night.

Mikolaj Oledzki didn’t return after his opening spell and fellow starting prop Cooper Jenkins was also given a long rest. Arthur said: “Mik has been carrying a few bumps and bruises. The guys in the middle of the park play tough for me every week and for their club and their fans.

“He has been carrying a bit, Cooper [Jenkins] has been carrying a bit, so whereI can I try and share the workload and look after them. I gave Mik and Cooper a specific job at the start of the game, they delivered that for me and I was able to pay them back.”