Connect with us

Super League

Leeds Rhinos v Wakefield Trinity: Preview

Leeds Rhinos v Wakefield Trinity

Leeds Rhinos welcome Wakefield Trinity to Headingley Carnegie on Friday after their morale-boosting win over Catalans Dragons last time out.

Team news and form – Leeds Rhinos

From the side that dismantled the Dragons, the Rhinos lose Brad Singleton for six games because of suspension, but Mitch Garbutt and Brett Ferres could return after injury. Meanwhile, highly-rated prop Mikolaj Oledzki makes the match day squad after being recalled from his loan spell in the Championship with Bradford Bulls.

The Rhinos form had been solid up until their surprise battering at the hands of Castleford Tigers. They will be looking to make sure that terrible performance was just a blip. Their great win over an out-of-sorts Catalans outfit started the healing process. And they looked a much better outfit with Joel Moon providing a running game at stand-off, with Liam Sutcliffe in the back-row and all-rounder Jimmy Keinhorst in the centres.

Team news and form – Wakefield Trinity

Wakefield make three changes to their 19-man squad from their last-gasp win over Salford Red Devils last time out. Captain Danny Kirmond, Joe Arundel and former Rhinos favourite Ben Jones-Bishop replace James Batchelor, Anthony England and injured hero from last round Reece Lyne. Meanwhile, Max Jowitt is being kept out of the side by in-form Scott Grix at full-back.

Trinity’s form, much like their opponents on Friday, has been solid but not spectacular. They have proven difficult to beat with an unlucky loss to Hull FC mixed in with a great win over Saints and that thriller against Salford, where they came from 22-12 down to snatch a win thanks to Sam Williams’ touch-line conversion.

Ones to watch and where the game will be won

The halves is a fascinating battle with Sam Williams and Jacob Miller providing much of what is great about Wakefield’s style of play. They will be up against the mazy running style of Joel Moon and veteran Danny McGuire, unless Brian McDermott opts to change things and play Burrow in the halves. I believe the speed in which the respective halves settle into the game will ultimately decide the game, with Miller and Williams the more settled duo at present.

Leeds Rhinos Squad: Golding, Briscoe, Watkins, Moon, Hall, McGuire, Burrow, Parcell, Cuthbertson, Ablett, Sutcliffe, Delaney, Garbutt, Keinhorst, Ferres, Mullally, Walters, Baldwinson, Oledzki.

Wakefield Trinity Squad: Allgood, Arona, Arundel, Ashurst, Caton-Brown, Fifita, Fin, Grix, Hadley, Huby, Jones-Bishop, Johnstone, Kirmond, Miller, Sio, Tupou, Walker, Williams, Wood.

Prediction: Leeds Rhinos 28-12 Wakefield Trinity

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Must See

More in Super League