Leeds Rhinos are sweating on the fitness of two half-backs after their 24-14 Challenge Cup loss at Wakefield Trinity.
It was Leeds’ sixth successive defeat by top-flight opposition in the competition since their Wembley victory against Salford Red Devils in 2020.
Rhinos led 14-6 late in the first period, but conceded a try after the half-time hooter and were second-best throughout the final 40 minutes.
To make things worse, they lost 19-year-old stand-off George Brown who limped off midway through the second half.
It was Brown’s second successive game standing in for Brodie Croft, who has a hamstring injury. Croft was named Leeds’ initial 21-man squad, but didn’t make the matchday 17.
Providing an update on Brown’s injury after the game, coach Brad Arthur confirmed: “It’s his knee.
“They are just checking the ligament on the outside. I think it’s pretty stable, but he’ll need to have a scan.”
The long turnaround to next Sunday’s game at Hull could give Croft time to recover from the knock he suffered against Hull KR in Las Vegas two weeks ago.
But they have only three specialist half-backs in their squad and if both Brown and Croft miss out, either Chris Hankinson, normally an outside-back, or new signing Jack Bird could be asked to fill in.
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Leeds Rhinos boss seeking a big response after Wakefield defeat
Arthur admitted he needs a big response from his players this week after accusing them of lacking fight against Wakefield.
“We know that certainly isn’t what this team’s about,” Arthur said. “It’s a poor reflection of us so there’s only one way we can lift and that’s with our response next week.
“We have got to get in, be honest and have a look at it. We can’t dwell on it, but it is going to hurt because we are out of the competition. We need to use that hurt as drive and get it right next week.”
Of the performance against Trinity, he added: “I thought we made some poor choices tonight around our intensity.
“We don’t want to be looking for reasons or excuses about Las Vegas and travel – it’s just what it is.
“I think we were beaten out of the blocks from the start of the game. I don’t know how we found our way into the lead, then we were too casual 30 seconds before half-time and allowed a soft try.
“I think that just shows we didn’t have the intent the game deserved. I was hoping we’d come and have a bit more fight about us, but we just didn’t have it.”
A bitterly disappointing night for the Rhinos as they go out of the Betfred Challenge Cup
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Trinity 24 – 14 Rhinos pic.twitter.com/4fT70hXkHn— Leeds Rhinos (@leedsrhinos) March 13, 2026
