Leeds Rhinos confirm major injury blow for two stars

Leeds Rhinos will host Super League leaders Wigan Warriors on Saturday but they’ll be without two England internationals due to injury.

Head coach Brad Arthur has confirmed that forward Mikolaj Oledzki and winger Ash Handley will both miss the game with Oledzki potentially sidelined for up to a month.

There could also be a long layoff for Handley who has been suffering from a wrist injury in recent weeks with Arthur confirming that the winger had been playing through pain recently.

Oledzki had been an injury concern after the loss to Salford and Arthur today confirmed his status.

“His ribs aren’t great so he’ll be probably out for up to a month I reckon,” Arthur revealed to the media.

“It’s unfortunate. I was enjoying coaching him. We’ll get another opportunity in hopefully a month’s time for him to come back into the team.”

Asked if the former England international had broken his ribs, Arthur confirmed: “Yeah, he’s been tough. He got through that, he pushed as much as he could through that game last week for us but he’s just got to a stage where he’s a passenger.”

He confirmed that it would mean Sam Lisone and Justin Sangare start at prop whilst Ben Littlewood will debut against the champions.

Leeds Rhinos suffer Ash Handley setback

As well as missing Oledzki, Leeds Rhinos will also be without Cam Smith in the forward pack with the captain suspended but perhaps a bigger miss is Ash Handley.

The winger offers strike from anywhere on the field and has been a source of some of the best tries in Super League this season. His absence is a devastating one but there was some solace in that David Fusitu’a does return as the club aim to make the playoffs.

Arthur explained: “Dave Fusitu’a is back, so he’ll get an opportunity. It’s unlikely that Ash will play, he’s been carrying that hand injury for a while but like I said, we haven’t focused on who’s not in the team, we’re focusing on who is in the team and what job they’ve got to do.

“It’s something that we need to get fixed as soon as we can get him in to see the right people and get that fixed so that it doesn’t affect him and his career moving forward and also ensure he’s a big part of the club moving forward as well.

“He’s going to need some work done to his wrist and as soon as we can get that sorted we will.”

Asked if it was season over for Handley, Arthur batted back and confirmed that the winger had been playing through pain but the club will take his recovery one week at a time.

“We’re going to take it a week at a time. I still think it’s a couple of weeks away until he can get in and get whatever’s needed to happen. So, he’s not able to play this week and then we’ll worry about next week if he’s a chance.”