Warrington Wolves v Leeds Rhinos - all you need to know

Adam Cuthbertson will add experience to Rhinos' mainly young squad. Picture by Bruce Rollinson.

Coach Richard Agar will rest most of his big guns ahead of the Coral Challenge Cup final against Salford Red Devils on Saturday.

Young and fringe players impressed, despite the scoreline, in a 34-6 loss to Catalans Dragons two weeks ago, but will face an even tougher challenge this time.

Here's all the crucial information or Tuesday's match.

Competition: Betfred Super League round 16

Opponents: Warrington Wolves

At: HJ Stadium.

On: Tuesday, October 13.

Kick-off: 7.45pm

Coverage: Sky Sports

Tickets: No admission for fans - the game will be played behind closed doors.

Opposition coach: Australian Steve Price, 43, joined Warrington from Cronulla Sharks, where he was assistant-coach, ahead of the 2018 season. A former player for St George and Balmain, he had a spell in charge of the Samoan national team and was head coach of St George-Illawarra Dragons from 2012-2014.

Opposition star man: Warrington star man: In the absence of Blake Austin, Garreth Widdop will be Wolves’ main playmaker, probably alongside Dec Patton. From Halifax, he made his name in the NRL with Melbourne Storm and St George-Illawarra, earning England and Great Britain honours, before joining Warrington last winter.

Key battle: Rhinos’ makeshift lineup makes it difficult to pick one, but old stagers Adam Cuthbertson and Brett Ferres are likely to be in the front-row and will give Chris Hill and Sitaleki Akauloa something to think about.

Opposition form: After being crushed 36-0 by Rhinos in February, Warrington won nine successive games either side of lockdown. That run ended when a young side were pipped by Salford Red Devils three days before the teams met in a Coral Challenge Cup semi-final. Warrington lost that in the final moments and suffered a last-gasp 18-14 defeat by Wigan Warriors last Friday.

Previous meeting: February 28, 2020. Betfred Super League round five. Leeds Rhinos 36 (Tries Walker, Myler, Dwyer, Hurrell, Seumanufagai, Handley. Goals Martin 6), Warrington Wolves 0. Referee: Robert Hicks. Attendance: 12,134.

Last five results: Leeds WWLWW, Warrington WWLLL.

Previous game: Leeds Rhinos 40, Hull 22 (Thursday, October 8), Warrington Wolves 14, Wigan Warriors 18 ( Friday, October 9).

Super League head to head: Leeds won 35, Warrington won 22, one draw. Leeds highest score: 54-16 (at home, 2006). Leeds’ widest winning margin: 52-10, away 2007). Warrington’s highest score: 52-18 (home, 2016). Warrington’s widest winning margin: 42-6, away in 2011).

Team news: Rhinos’ 21-man squad includes only five players who featured in last Thursday’s win over Hull. Warrington are without Blake Austin, Mike Cooper, Jake Mamo and Joe Philbin from last week’s loss to Wigan.

Rhinos injuries: Harry Newman (broken leg), Stevie Ward (head).

Warrington Wolves: from Akauola, Ashton, Brand, Charnley, D Clark, J Clark, Currie, Davis, Doro, Gelling, Hill, Hughes, Johnson, King, Longstaff, Patton, Ratchford, Robson, Thewlis, D Walker, Widdop.

Leeds Rhinos: from J Walker, Dwyer, Cuthbertson, Thompson, Evans, Smith, McLelland, L Briscoe, A Sutcliffe, Walters, Holroyd, Mustapha, O’Connor, Broadbent, Hall, Tindall, Harrison, Ferres, Whiteley, Edwards, McConnell.

Referee: To be announced.

Next game: Leeds Rhinos v Salford Red Devils (Coral Challenge Cup final, Saturday, October 17), Catalans Dragons v Warrington Wolves (to be confirmed).

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Laura Collins