Last night made for difficult watching for Tony Smith.
Not only did he watch his side fail to score against an injury hit Leeds side as their good form came to an abrupt end at Headingley, but he also possibly lost four players to injury ahead of next week’s Challenge Cup semi-final against Huddersfield.
However, Smith was able to reveal a surprise boost ahead of that semi-final which will lessen the possible loss of Sam Wood, Lachlan Coote, Matt Parcell and Matty Storton from last night’s game.
This week, Smith revealed that Kane Linnett had torn his bicep after the win over Wakefield and could be out for eight weeks, however now it looks like Linnett may be able to play in the semi-final next week.
“Kane will be able to play on, he is at risk,” Smith said, “The surgeon has told him he can’t operate on him for a couple of weeks, so should he play and it tears entirely he’s in no worse position because he’s going to repair it anyway. He can carry on so I think Kane will probably carry on and see what happens. So, he either plays on with it and it doesn’t go [tear fully] or gets it operated on if it does. We’ve a chance of having him.”
So, despite some potential losses last night, Smith will have one key player back in the fold for the semi-final whilst Shaun Kenny-Dowall and Jez Litten will also return to the side after missing last night’s game.
