This afternoon the finest academy talent from Lancashire battle the best academy players from Yorkshire in a great game in their development as the next stars of the English game.
Names on today’s team sheet could very well fire England forward in years to come as well as club sides with big contingents from St Helens, Warrington, Wigan and Leeds. The Rhinos have four players lining up for Yorkshire including highly thought of centre Max Simpson.
Simpson has played Leeds’ last three fixtures and in all three has never looked out of place. A player with a big future he’ll be joined by fellow Rhino Jack Smith on the edge for Yorkshire today.
🗒️ Your teams ahead of this afternoon's Origin Series fixture between Lancashire and Yorkshire Academy!
🏴 #EnglandRL pic.twitter.com/ewtr0XV0e4
— England Rugby League (@England_RL) May 15, 2022
However, Simpson’s inclusion in the team means he will not feature for the Rhinos against Salford today despite being named in the 21-man squad.
Meanwhile, the line-ups for this origin clash seemingly confirm that Jack Sinfield will feature for Leeds today. Sinfield was included in the Lancashire squad ahead of the game but hasn’t been included suggesting he has been picked in Leeds’ 17 for this afternoon’s game against Salford.
It’ll be interesting to see whether he will start as he did against Castleford and Toulouse or if he’ll be used off the bench as he was against Hull KR.
His halfback partner for the Rhinos’ under 18s Kai Morgan has been named in the Yorkshire side and been named captain. Perhaps we shall see both Morgan and Sinfield line up for Leeds one day.
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