Leeds Rhinos v Castleford Tigers - all you need to know

Tigers are out of the Betfred Super League play-offs race, but - buoyed by a win last week - will be keen to derail Rhinos’ top-four hopes.

Here's everything you need to know to set the scene for the big match.

Rhinos' opponents: Castleford Tigers.

At: Emerald Headingley.

On: Monday, October 26

Kick-off: 7.45pm

Coverage: Sky Sports .

Tickets: No admission for fans - the game will be played behind closed doors.

Tigers coach: Now the longest-serving coach in Super League, former Leeds player and team boss Daryl Powell, 55, took charge of Tigers seven years ago after a successful spell at Featherstone Rovers. He starred for Sheffield Eagles, Keighley Cougars - where he was player coach - and Great Britain before ending his playing days with Rhinos.

Tigers form: Castleford are eighth in Super League, having gone into the coronavirus shutdown in second place. They picked up their second win in 10 games since the sport restarted when they beat Hull KR 38-24 last Thursday.

Tigers star man: Stand-off Jake Trueman could return from injury to team up with Danny Richardson in the halves, giving Tigers the direction and creativity they have lacked at times in recent games.

Key battle: Paul McShane and Luke Gale did some training together in the closing stages of the coronavirus lockdown and are good friends off the field, as well as former Tigers teammates. Both will want to get one up on the other.

Previous meeting: July 5, 2019. Betfred Super League round 21. Castleford Tigers 10 (Tries Clare 2. Goals Rankin), Leeds Rhinos 18 (Tries Merrin, Walker, Lui. Goals L Sutcliffe 3). Referee: Ben Thaler. Attendance: 8,147.

Last five results: Rhinos WWLWL, Tigers LLLLW

Super League head-to-head: Rhinos have won 32, Tigers won 23 and there have been three draws. Leeds’ highest score and widest margin was 76-12 at home in 2009. Castleford’s highest score and widest margin was 66-10 at home in 2017.

Team news: Rhinos will recall most of the big names who were rested against St Helens last Friday. Only Adam Cuthbertson (shoulder) is missing from Leeds’ Challenge Cup-winning team. Academy product Cain Robb is in contention to make his Tigers debut and Jake Trueman, Liam Watts, Oliver Holmes, James Clare, Tyla Hepi, Matt Cook, Gareth O’Brien and Dan Fleming are also vying for a recall. Adam Milner, Nathan Massey, Jacques O’Neill, Rhinos academy product Brad Martin and Bailey Hodgson drop out from the team which beat Hull KR last Thursday.

Other Rhinos injuries: Harry Newman (broken leg), Stevie Ward (head).

Leeds Rhinos: from Walker, T Briscoe, Hurrell, Handley, Lui, Gale, Seumanufagai, Leeming, Prior, Mellor, Martin, Dwyer, L Sutcliffe, Myler, Oledzki, Thompson, C Smith, L Briscoe, Donaldson, A Sutcliffe, Holroyd.

Castleford Tigers: from Olpherts, Shenton, Trueman, Richardson, Watts, McShane, Holmes, McMeeken, Sene-Lefao, Foster, Blair, D Smith, Moors, Clare, Cook, Hepi, Eden, Peachey, O’Brien, Fleming, Robb.

Facing their former club: Luke Gale joined Rhinos from Tigers at the end of last season. Castleford’s Paul McShane began his career at Leeds, as did Alex Foster.

Referee: Tom Grant (Leeds).

Next match: Leeds Rhinos v Wakefield Trinity (Thursday, October 29, at HJ Stadium, St Helens); Huddersfield Giants v Castleford Tigers (Friday, October 30, at John Smith’s Stadium).

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