Leeds Rhinos have been dealt a major injury blow following their Challenge Cup defeat at the hands of St Helens.
The game saw Leeds’ hopes of making it to Wembley end as they lost 22-14 to Saints but they also lost hooker Andy Ackers, with the playmaker leaving the field just before half time.
He was set to undergo tests to reveal the extent of the damage and those results have now confirmed that he is out until June with a torn hamstring.
Per Serious About Rugby League’s sister site, the Yorkshire Evening Post, a Rhinos spokesman said that Ackers “will not require an operation and is expected to return to action in early June”.
It is yet another injury to the Leeds spine with the Rhinos having lost loose forward and co-captain Cameron Smith to a long-term injury whilst Lachie Miller only made his first appearance on Friday, and halves Matt Frawley and Brodie Croft have both already missed game time this season.
Miller was forced into playing a larger role than expected on Friday night on account of Ackers’ injury with Brad Arthur admitting: “We hadn’t planned on playing him 80; when we lost Ackers he said he was going all right and we had to leave him on, but he probably wasn’t ready to play the full-80.”
Attention now turns to how they will replace the England international at nine with Jarrod O’Connor likely to have to step into the role having served as an interchange option at both hooker and loose forward this season, although he has suffered with a knee injury this year.
Beyond O’Connor, Leeds are short at the position having let Corey Johnson go at the end of the 2024 season when he joined Sheffield Eagles. Jack Sinfield has played at hooker at times but is another who has been on the casualty list with a foot injury sustained in the Challenge Cup clash against Wests Warriors.
Leeds Rhinos will name their 21-man squad on Thursday ahead of their game against Wigan Warriors on Saturday.
