Injury concerns after defeat as Leeds Rhinos pair head to hospital

Rohan Smith has provided an injury update on both Ash Handley and Tom Holroyd, the two men leaving the field in the first half as Leeds Rhinos fell to a heavy defeat at home to Warrington Wolves.

It marked a third consecutive home loss for Leeds Rhinos with a chorus of boos heard at half-time and some at full-time too, Smith’s side eventually being blown out 34-8.

That was despite the fact the Rhinos got on the board first through Harry Newman with the centre leaping highest to claim Matt Frawley’s kick and touch down after ten minutes.

Ash Handley almost went the length of the field but for a brilliant covering tackling by Matty Ashton but that would be the only highlight of Handley with the winger leaving the field early on following a heavy hit from George Williams.

The returning Tom Holroyd also left the field for a Head Injury Assessment as Warrington turned the screw in the first forty, scoring through Matty Nicholson, George Williams and Joe Bullock to lead 16-8 at the half.

Leeds crucially scored first in the second half through Luis Roberts but they would go on to concede a further three tries, all in the final 15 minutes, with short goal-line drop-outs and intercepted offering Warrington easy scores.

Whilst the loss will be hugely concerning for fans, there was also concern for the two injured players and Rohan Smith has now provided an update on the pair.

Leeds Rhinos duo head to hospital

Speaking in his post-game press conference to BBC Radio Leeds, Smith revealed that both Holroyd and Handley had left Headingley and made their way to the hospital.

He confirmed:  “They’re both going to hospital to get checked out.  Tom has been feeling unwell after failing the HIA and Ash has a possible cracked rib.I don’t know if that was a turning point but it certainly didn’t help and we had to dig deep.

“We lost a few early in the game as well and had to dig deep and to a point to get back to 16-8 and be in it there. We were probably on the poorer side of the two teams at that point but it was close, the scoreboard got close.”

That did offer Rohan Smith the opportunity to hand young Ned McCormack his debut with the former England Rugby Union youth star brought on in the second half and showing glimpses of promise.

The tide wasn’t to be turned though and Smith even argued that his side perhaps tried “too hard at times” which could have caused the wide margin of defeat.

He explained: “I thought that it was one of those games, I don’t think the scoreline reflected the battle it was, but it’s a pretty harsh lesson to take as well.

“We probably tried a bit too hard at times near the end, we were chasing the game but the game was gone which made the scoreline blow out a fraction more than it probably deserved. I the end we were second best today.”