Leeds Rhinos hit with another major blow as star man pulls out prior to kick-off

Leeds Rhinos were already doing it tough naming a team with three teenagers in it with Jack Sinfield named on a very small bench alongside hooker Brad Dwyer and just two middles in James Donaldson and Bodene Thompson.

This comes because Matt Prior joined every other specialist prop at Leeds except for Mikolaj Oledzki on the sidelines due to a two-match ban resulting in a start at prop for Sam Walters who continues to change from a second-rower to a middle.

This is despite the loan signing of Yusuf Aydin who interestingly doesn’t feature at all.

Making matters worse, alongside injuries to Aidan Sezer, Blake Austin and Kruise Leeming as three quarters of Leeds’ first choice spine, Leeds have also lost Zak Hardaker resulting in 17-year-old Max Simpson starting at centre.

He is joined by Rhyse Martin with Liam Sutcliffe set to start at stand-off however Sutcliffe is no longer set to play dropping out due to illness and being replaced in the starting 13 by Jack Sinfield.

The Rhinos have had to make a late additional change, Liam Sutcliffe has been ruled out through illness and is replaced by Jack Sinfield in the starting line up, Liam Tindall is now on the bench

— Leeds Rhinos (@leedsrhinos) July 16, 2022

This sees winger Liam Tindall come onto the bench. He will likely enable Rhyse Martin to move into the pack due to Ash Handley and David Fusitu’a’s experience playing in the centres with Tindall capable of slotting in on the wing as he returns from injury.

It’s interesting that Aydin didn’t come into the side following Sutcliffe’s withdrawal so it suggests something more is happening with the on loan signing who was expected to debut today for the Rhinos.