Leeds Rhinos suffer new blow: Rhyse Martin ruled out of Huddersfield Giants clash

Martin will miss the fixture after being issued with a one-game penalty notice by the RFL’s match review panel.

He was charged grade B dangerous contact on Leigh Centurions’ Craig Mullen in the third minute of Rhinos’ 46-10 win last Friday.

The review panel’s notes stated: “A defending player makes contact with an opponent after the ball has been released by an opponent in a vulnerable position which causes excessive flexion to the head, neck or spinal column on an attacking player, which poses an unacceptable risk of injury to that player.”

Alex Mellor is sidelined by a knee injury, so Rhinos will be without both their first-choice second-rowers.

Rhinos were today awaiting the result of scans on the knee injury Luke Gale suffered against Leigh and Konrad Hurrell remains in a protective boot following the same game.

Liam Sutcliffe is also ruled out, with a long-term knee problem, so Rhinos will need to find a stand-in goal kicker for Thursday’s match.

Martin could appeal, but would risk the punishment being increased if a challenge was deemed ‘frivolous’ by a disciplinary panel.

There were no other charges from last week’s game.

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