Leeds Rhinos host Wigan Warriors in Round Five of Super League and the team news is in with a big decision made on Jai Field.
The build-up mid-week was focused on two men; Leeds’ Ryan Hall ahead of his 500th career appearance, and the Cherry and Whites’ full-back Field, and whether he would play after suffering an injury in the Challenge Cup defeat against Hull FC.
Despite that hamstring injury, Field was named in the 21-man squad prompting suggestions that the injury was not as bad as had been first feared with the Australian having previously missed large periods of time due to hamstring injuries.
Mid-week, Matt Peet said: “Jai has had these sorts of injuries before so we have got some more appointments before we’ll be able to put a timeframe on it.”
As for Leeds, all eyes were on Ryan Hall ahead of his landmark game with the Rhinos winger set to hit a milestone that very few achieve and he’d be intent to cap it off with a win.
Both teams have now been confirmed.
Leeds Rhinos team news
The big change for Leeds Rhinos is the absence of Andy Ackers with their hooker suffering a hamstring injury that has ruled him out for up to 12 weeks and that means Jarrod O’Connor starts in the number nine role.
He’s the latest spine player to go down injured after captain Cam Smith and Brad Arthur has made another call on his spine, opting to play Jake Connor alongside Brodie Croft with Matt Frawley missing out and Lachie Miller at full-back.
Cooper Jenkins earned a start as well which saw Keenan Palasia shift to loose forward, meaning Morgan Gannon moved to the bench. Jack Sinfield also featured on the bench, able to cover in the halves and at hooker.
Leeds Rhinos XIII: Lachie Miller, Riley Lumb, Harry Newman, Ash Handley, Ryan Hall, Brodie Croft, Jake Connor, Mikolaj Oledzki, Jarrod O’Connor, Cooper Jenkins, James Bentley, James McDonnell, Keenan Palasia
Brad Arthur has named his starting Leeds Rhinos line up to face Wigan Warriors tonight at AMT Headingley, kick off 5.30pm live on @SkySportsRL, including Ryan Hall on his 500th career appearance pic.twitter.com/sEdmn7bKIp
— Leeds Rhinos (@leedsrhinos) March 22, 2025
Interchanges: Morgan Gannon, Sam Lisone, Tom Holroyd, Jack Sinfield
Wigan Warriors team news
It had been confirmed that Adam Keighran would be sidelined for an extended period so he misses out but there ia another blow in regards to his fellow Australian back, Jai Field.
The full-back has not been named and that has seen Bevan French shifted to full-back with Jack Farrimond parachuted into the halves alongside Harry Smith.
Zach Eckersley replaces Adam Keighran, Abbas Miski makes his return and former Leeds Rhinos man Sam Walters is named on the bench with the forward pack looking just as expected
Wigan Warriors XIII: Bevan French; Abbas Miski, Zach Eckersley, Jake Wardle, Liam Marshall; Jack Farrimond, Harry Smith; Liam Byrne, Kruise Leeming, Luke Thompson, Junior Nsemba, Liam Farrell, Kaide Ellis
Interchanges: Tyler Dupree, Patrick Mago, Sam Walters, Tom Forber
📋 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠 𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦
Matt Peet has named his side to take on the Rhinos at AMT Headingley this evening! 👊@KHDBrokkHire | #WWRL #SLLEEWIG pic.twitter.com/N4bRQvrJql
— Wigan Warriors 🍒⚪️ (@WiganWarriorsRL) March 22, 2025
