Leeds star ruled out of Cup final

Leeds hooker Paul Aiton will miss the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup final after scans confirmed that he suffered a broken arm during the Rhinos’ 49-10 Super League win over Warrington on Friday night.

Aiton, who is leaving Leeds at the end of the season to join Catalans Dragons, will undergo surgery over the weekend and he will be ruled out for six to eight weeks.

The Papua New Guinea international, who was appearing in his 40th consecutive game for the club, will sit out the Wembley showdown with Hull KR on Saturday, August 29, and faces a race to be back for the final three games of the season if the Rhinos reach the semi-finals of the Super 8s and the October 10 Grand Final at Old Trafford.

Leeds coach Brian McDermott said: “It is terrible news for Paul. He has been great for us this year and has been a key player in how we play.

“The nature of professional sport is that you can never choose when you might pick up an injury like this and the timing is personally tough for Paul and what he will miss out on.

“However, he will do everything he can to be back before the end of the Super 8s and I am sure he will have a say on this season for us.

“In his absence we are fortunate to have an outstanding hooker in Rob Burrow and he will be supported by two very talented young players in Jordan Lilley and Robbie Ward.”