Leeds Rhinos have issued an injury update ahead of Saturday’s game at Salford Red Devils.
Rhinos will be without prop Mikolaj Oledzki who failed a head injury assessment during last weekend’s defeat by Wakefield Trinity in Betfred Super League round one.
The club say he is “feeling well” and will be available for selection after a mandatory 12-day stand down, if he completes the sport’s to play protocol with no ill-effects.
Oledzki was hurt making a tackle and Rhinos officials have praised physio David Ferguson for his quick action to remove the Leeds front-rower from the firing line as play initially continued around him.
Any hopes that two of Rhinos’ highly-rated young centres could soon be back on the field have been dashed.
Ned McCormack, who has not played since sustaining hamstring damage in the act of scoring away to Warrington Wolves last July, has undergone surgery and is “likely” to miss the entire season, Rhinos say.
And Max Simpson’s return, following more than two years on the casualty list, has been delayed.
Simpson suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in January, 2023. He returned to training last month, but a separate hamstring injury will now keep him out of action for eight weeks.
Rookie forward Ben Littlewood is another long-term absentee with a pre-season hamstring injury and is facing another two months on the sidelines.
Hooker/loose-forward Jarrod O’Connor is back in training after sustaining knee ligament damage against Wakefield on Boxing Day and may be in contention this week.
Scrum-half/hooker Jack Sinfield is two-three weeks away from full fitness after copping a bruised foot during the Betfred Challenge Cup win against Wests Warriors on February 8 and full-back Lachie Miller will be on the casualty list for four more weeks with a calf muscle injury suffered in pre-season.
Winger Maika Sivo was ruled out for the whole year with ACL damage from Ash Handley’s testimonial game against Wigan Warriors last month. He has undergone surgery and is in rehab’ at Rhinos’ Kirkstall training base.
