The pick of the three Super League games on Friday night pits Warrington Wolves against Leeds Rhinos with Sam Burgess’ side looking to bounce back from their second loss of the season on the road at Headingley.
One of the reasons why this game is so hotly-anticipated is on account of where each side sits in the current Super League table, or more accurately their records.
Warrington Wolves are sitting in third after missing the chance to go top when they lost at home to Catalans at the weekend whereas Leeds’ victory meant that they retained their sixth-placed position, but both sides sit on eight points.
Whilst Warrington have twice lost to Catalans, the Rhinos actually beat the French side in Round Three, however, Warrington have beaten Hull KR whom Leeds lost to showcasing how competitive Super League is this season.
It seems both sides are on a very similar level which is what makes Friday’s clash so intriguing with it being a chance for each team to lay down a marker and confirm themselves as a serious play-off contender and not simply the beneficiaries of ‘easy’ starts, as some rival fans have suggested.
A win over Catalans at the weekend would have cemented Warrington’s status as serious contenders but it was a hurdle they fell short of and a game that saw them lose star forward Paul Vaughan to suspension.
Vaughan’s two-game ban means he will miss Friday’s match just like Leeds’ Justin Sangare who was hit with a one-game ban, however, the Rhinos will be thankful to have captain Cam Smith back after successfully appealing his ban at tribunal last night.
The team news for both sides has now been confirmed.
Leeds Rhinos boosted ahead of Warrington Wolves clash
Credit: Imago Images
Leeds Rhinos have been boosted by the timely return of Tom Holroyd who takes his place in the squad two weeks after suffering an elbow injury against St Helens, the Englishman replacing the suspended Sangare.
James Bentley also misses out after failing his HIA against Castleford Tigers, something the club are set to arrange for him to see a specialist about, but the Irish international is replaced too.
Ned McCormack and Ben Littlewood are brought into the squad whilst the Rhinos remain without star winger David Fusitu’a who missed almost all of the club’s pre-season.
Harry Newman is included despite his gruesome lip injury that he suffered last week and saw him leave the field and head to the hospital, with the centre set to play after Rohan Smith confirmed he had healed well.
As for Warrington, they’ve named Josh Drinkwater and George Williams together for the second consecutive week, however, Drinkwater didn’t make the matchday squad last game with Leon Hayes backed instead.
Centre Rodrick Tai looks set to feature again which will likely force Stefan Ratchford out and potentially cause goal-kicking issues again for Josh Thewlis.
Max Wood is recalled from his loan deal with Bradford Bulls with the forward named in place of the suspended Paul Vaughan.
Leeds Rhinos 21-Man Squad
1 Lachie Miller
3 Harry Newman
4 Paul Momirovski
5 Ash Handley
6 Brodie Croft
7 Matt Frawley
8 Mikolaj Oledzki
9 Andy Ackers
10 Tom Holroyd
12 Rhyse Martin
13 Cameron Smith
14 Jarrod O’Connor
15 Sam Lisone
16 James McDonnell
18 Mickael Goudemand
21 Jack Sinfield
24 Luis Roberts
25 James Donaldson
29 Alfie Edgell
31 Ned McCormack
32 Ben Littlewood
Warrington Wolves 21-Man Squad
Matty Ashton
Joe Bullock
Jordy Crowther
Ben Currie
Josh Drinkwater
Matt Dufty
Lachlan Fitzgibbon
James Harrison
Leon Hates
Adam Holroyd
Toby King
Matty Nicholson
Sam Powell
Stefan Ratchford
Rodrick Tai
Josh Thewlis
Danny Walker
Tom Whitehead
George Williams
Max Wood
Connor Wrench
