Coaches Brad Arthur and Steve McNamara have named their initial squads for Friday’s huge game between Leeds Rhinos and Catalans Dragons at AMT Headingley.
Rhinos are seventh in the table, four points behind fifth-placed Catalans.
Leeds Rhinos squad news
Rhinos have two players back in contention, but one of their main men has been ruled out for the rest of this season.
Stand-off Brodie Croft returns to Rhinos’ initial 21-man squad after flying home to Australia last week to attend his grandfather’s funeral and teenage back Riley Lumb is also included for the first time since suffering a hamstring injury in May.
Leading try scorer Ash Handley drops out from the side beaten by Warrington Wolves last Saturday. He has undergone surgery on a damaged wrist and will not play again this year. The other change to Rhinos’ squad sees hooker Corey Johnson, who didn’t play, drop out from the 21 named ahead of Magic Weekend.
Catalans Dragons squad news
Visiting coach Steve McNamara has named a 20-man squad. Winger Matt Ikavalu and substitute Jarrod Wallace drop out after being injured in last Sunday’s loss to Hull KR. Loose-forward Yacine Ben Abdeslem is drafted in.
Rhinos’ 21-man squad is: Lachie Miller, David Fusitu’a, Harry Newman, Paul Momirovski, Brodie Croft, Matt Frawley, Andy Ackers, James Bentley, Rhyse Martin, Cameron Smith, Jarrod O’Connor, Sam Lisone, James McDonnell, Justin Sangare, Mickael Goudemand, Jack Sinfield, James Donaldson, Alfie Edgell, Tom Nicholson-Watton, Ben Littlewood, Riley Lumb.
Catalans Dragons’ 21 is: Arthur Mourgue, Tom Davies, Arthur Romano, Matthieu Laguerre, Fouad Yaha, Theo Fages, Mike McMeeken, Julian Bousquet, Paul Seguier, Benjamin Garcia, Alrix Da Costa, Bayley Sironen, Romain Navarrete, Cesar Rouge, Chris Satae, Jordan Dezaria, Franck Maria, Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet, Yacine Ben Abdeslemn, Reimis Smith.
Rugby League News
Exiled rugby league star offered surprise comeback
