New injury blow for Leeds Rhinos but one could return and rookies called into squad ahead of St Helens clash

Prop Sam Lisone has been ruled out by a calf muscle injury and joins stand-off Blake Austin – who missed last week’s Betfred Challenge Cup defeat by Wigan Warriors with a similar problem – on the casualty list.

Coach Rohan Smith said: “Blake is trending well. He is probably a couple of weeks away and Sam is probably a month away.”

Winger/full-back Ash Handley has been named in Rhinos’ initial squad after being unavailable through illness last Saturday and full-back Luke Hooley and second-rower Leon Ruan have been drafted into the 21. Hooley made his Rhinos debut against Hull KR in March and has been on loan at his former club Batley Bulldogs.

Ruan joined Rhinos from Doncaster after a spell on trial last year and impressed in their pre-season games. Luis Roberts and Sam Walters retain their place in the squad after not being selected for the Cup tie.

Saints are without the suspended Morgan Knowles from the team which beat Halifax Panthers in the Challenge Cup last Friday.

Curtis Sironen is available after a ban, Konrad Hurrell could return from a neck problem and James Roby, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook and Sam Royle are in contention for a recall.

Rhinos’ 21-man squad is: Richie Myler, Harry Newman, Nene MacDonald, Ash Handley, Aidan Sezer, Mikolaj Oledzki, Rhyse Martin, Cameron Smith, Jarrod O’Connor, Derrell Olpherts, Justin Sangare, Tom Holroyd, James McDonnell, Morgan Gannon, Luke Hooley, Sam Walters, Liam Tindall, Luis Roberts, James Donaldson, Corey Johnson, Leon Ruan.

Saints’ 21 is: Jack Welsby, Tommy Makinson, Will Hopoate, Jon Bennison, Jonny Lomax, Lewis Dodd, Alex Walmsley, James Roby, Sione Mata’utia, Joe Batchelor, Joey Lussick, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Curtis Sironen, Agnatius Paasi, Jake Wingfield, James Bell, Ben Davies, Sam Royle, Konrad Hurrell, Tee Ritson, George Delaney.