Leeds Rhinos v Wigan Warriors: Latest team news

FULL-BACK JACK Walker and veteran forward Adam Cuthbertson have played themselves into Coral Challenge Cup semi-final contention, Leeds Rhinos coach Richard Agar says.
By Peter Smith
Published 3rd Oct 2020, 06:01 BST
Leeds Rhinos' full-back Jack Walker. Picture: Bruce Rollinson.Leeds Rhinos' full-back Jack Walker. Picture: Bruce Rollinson.
Leeds Rhinos' full-back Jack Walker. Picture: Bruce Rollinson.

They were two of the senior players involved in Wednesday night’s 34-6 Betfred Super League defeat by Catalans Dragons, when Agar rested most of his big names.

Walker made his first appearance since suffering a fractured foot at the end of February and has been included in Agar’s initial 21-man squad for the showdown with Wigan Warriors at St Helens.

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“We wanted to get Jack through a game and he came through well enough that at half-time we had seen enough to stick him in contention for this game,” Agar said. “We wanted to see a bit more out of Cuthbo who has had a bit of a punctured run into this game with the birth of his baby and a little bit of an injury. Again, Cuthbo did enough the other night to put himself back in the frame.”

Adam Cuthbertson in action against Catalans Dragons . Picture: Bruce Rollinson.Adam Cuthbertson in action against Catalans Dragons . Picture: Bruce Rollinson.
Adam Cuthbertson in action against Catalans Dragons . Picture: Bruce Rollinson.

All of the side which beat Hull KR last week are in contention for today, with the exception of broken leg victim Harry Newman.

In addition, loose-forward Cameron Smith is available after recovering from a broken jaw, along with hooker Brad Dwyer following his bout of coronavirus and centre Konrad Hurrell who had to isolate under track and trace protocols.

The other player drafted in is centre/second-row Alex Sutcliffe, who played on Wednesday. Other than a replacement for Newman, the starting line-up is unlikely to see major changes, but there could be a reshuffle on the bench.

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Agar added: “The weather forecast is a pretty grim one and we have taken that into account in the way we’ve trained and we might take that into account in our selection.”

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

Wigan Warriors: from Hardaker, Gildart, J Burgess, French, Leuluai, Powell, Isa, Farrell, O’Loughlin, Flower, Greenwood, Partington, Bullock, Byrne, Manfredi, Bibby, H Smith, Havard, Hastings, Bourouh, Shorrocks.

Referee: Chris Kendall (Huddersfield).

Kick-off: Today, 2.30pm, at St Helens.

Related topics:Richard AgarCameron SmithWigan WarriorsBrad Dwyer

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