Leeds Rhinos will be without at least two members of their first team squad when the new season begins next month.
Jarrod O’Connor has been ruled out after suffering a knee injury in the Boxing Day win against Wakefield Trinity, who Rhinos face in Super League round one on Saturday, February 15.
He joins full-back Alfie Edgell, who underwent surgery after sustaining a broken jaw in training before Christmas, on the long-term casualty list.
Hooker O’Connor has been ever-present for the past two seasons and Leeds’ last game without him was a 20-20 home draw with Huddersfield Giants on April 14, 2022.
Rhinos’ players were back at work today after their Christmas break and sporting director Ian Blease confirmed: “Jarrod will miss the start of the season.
“He has a grade two MCL [medial collateral ligament] injury. It’s eight to 10 weeks, he’ll have some PRP [platelet-rich plasma] injections after six weeks. He’ll probably be back for round three or four.”
Edgell is “recovering well” following his operation, Blease reported. “It is good news, his examination and x-rays have gone really well,” he said. “It is just a case of monitoring him now.”
Forward Cooper Jenkins is still hampered by a dead leg suffered on Boxing Day, but Leeds Rhinos are confident he will be available for the start of the new campaign.
First-choice full-back Lachie Miller didn’t play at Christmas after damaging a hamstring in the off-season.
He is hopeful of featuring against Wakefield, but Blease stressed he won’t be rushed. He said: “He is back training, we reined it in for a bit with him and now we’re going to ramp it up again. It’s one of those where you just wait and see.
“He is one of those players who recovers well, but you have to be careful. If you push him back too early there’s a danger you could make it worse.”
