Local pride at stake as Hunslet prepare to take on Leeds Rhinos

Former Leeds Rhinos academy winger Ben Markland will play against his former club on Friday. Picture by Jonathan Gawthorpe.

Coach Gary Thornton has named a squad including all his fit players as Hunslet bid to complete an unbeaten pre-season.

The Parksiders play host to Coventry Bears in the Coral Challenge Cup next weekend and visit Keighley Cougars for the Betfred League One kick off on Sunday, February 16.

Josh Tonks, Simon Brown and AJ Boardman all face a fitness test and Nathan Conroy has been ruled out of the Harry Jepson OBE Memorial Trophy tie because of a wrist injury.

AJ Boardman faces a fitnessx test. Picture by Paul Johnson.

Thornton said: “It’s a last chance to have a look at people.

“We’ve got 23 signed on and 23 doesn’t go into 17 so somebody is going to miss out next week and this is everybody’s last opportunity to show what they can do.”

The coach added: “I don’t think we’re miles off what we think is going to be the 17, but we’ve got to make sure everybody is on board with the gameplan.

“We are gearing what we are doing towards the Keighley game and this is great preparation for us.”

Hunslet are holders of the Jepson Trophy and Leeds will again field a reserve/academy side.

“There’s a bit of local pride at stake and we look forward to playing them because it’s always a good game,” Thornton added.

“The last couple of years we have got the result, but they always put up a good test and this year will be no different.

“We played Bradford’s youngsters a few weeks ago and they were the same.

“Young lads coming through the academy systems now are good players and tough opposition.”

Thornton predicted: “It’ll probably be different to what we normally expect, it probably won’t be as physical as League One, but they’ll have pace, they’ll be skilful and have a good gameplan and we’ll have to defend well.”

Hunslet: from Watson, Chrimes, Heaton, Ashton, Markland, Brown, Brambani, Kidd, Lee, Braham, Tonks, Straugheir, Halafihi, Hartley, Copland (trialist), Boardman, Forde (trialist), Rowse, Aldous, Ray, Andrade, Rowe, King.

Leeds Rhinos: from Whitton, Stephens, Hall, Broadbent, Tindall, Spence, Mallinson, Dupree, Whiteley, Mustapha, Walters, McConnell, O Burton, Rowley, Snee, Gibbons, Field, J Burton, Delaney, Barton.

Referee: Neil Horton (Wakefield).

Kick-off: Friday, 7.30pm.