Leeds Rhinos v Castleford Tigers: Bailey set to face former club

Prop Ryan Bailey could play against the club where he won six Super League Grand Finals for this first time this week.
Leeds Rhinos Joel Moon.
Picture Jonathan Gawthorpe.Leeds Rhinos Joel Moon.
Picture Jonathan Gawthorpe.
Leeds Rhinos Joel Moon. Picture Jonathan Gawthorpe.

Bailey has recovered from a calf injury and has been named in Castleford Tigers’ initial 19-man squad for Thursday’s derby at Leeds Rhinos.

The 31-year-old left Rhinos at the end of last season to join Hull KR, but was injured when Leeds visited Craven Park at the start of the season.

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He played just one game for Hull KR before moving to Castleford.

Hooker Scott Moore has shaken off the effects of concussion and is also added to the 17 players who beat Hull KR last Friday.

Luke Dorn, Justin Carney, Matt Cook, Lee Jewitt and Frankie Mariano all remain unavailable.

Rhinos could have three players back, but are still without full-back Zak Hardaker and second-row Brett Delaney.

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Centre Joel Moon is set to feature after missing last Sunday’s win at Wakefield Trinity Wildcats due to suspension.

Back-rower Jamie Jones-Buchanan, who has been struggling with a long-term hamstring problem, is also included in Rhinos’ 19-man squad, along with prop Kylie Leuluai.

He has not played for almost three months after undergoing shoulder surgery.

Hardaker (ankle) and Delaney (hamstring) will both be missing for the second successive game and winger Tom Briscoe (shoulder) and forward Mitch Achurch (wrist) remain on the long-term casualty list.

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Prop Andy Yates drops out from the team which won at Belle Vue.

Thursday’s game will be refereed by James Child.

Leeds Rhinos: from Sutcliffe, Handley, Watkins, Moon, Hall, McGuire, Burrow, Cuthbertson, Aiton, Peacock, S Ward, Ablett, Sinfield, Singleton, Walters, Lilley, Keinhorst, Leuluai, Jones-Buchanan.

Castleford Tigers: from Roberts, Gibson, Webster, Shenton, Solomona, Finn, Gale, Lynch, Milner, Millington, O Holmes, McMeeken, Massey, Boyle, Moors, Tansey, Maher, Moore, Bailey.