Three pivotal players could return from injury when Leeds Rhinos face Catalans Dragons in Perpignan on Saturday.
Full-back Lachie Miller, who missed the final two games of the 2024 campaign with a hamstring injury and hasn’t played this year after damaging a calf muscle in pre-season, has been included in the Rhinos‘ initial 21-man squad for the first time this term. He was expected to be back in contention for next week’s Betfred Challenge Cup tie at St Helens or the visit of Wigan Warriors in Super League on Saturday, March 22.
Stand-off Brodie Croft returns to the 21 after missing last Sunday’s win against Castleford Tigers because of concussion. Scrum-half Matt Frawley retains his place in the squad, having missed the game four days ago with a hand injury.
Tom Holroyd is beginning a two-match suspension and Jack Smith, who has yet to make his debut, is the other player to drop out from the last week’s initial squad. Catalans are boosted by the returns of Sam Tomkins, Chris Satae and Theo Fages, with Bayley Sironen, Cesar Rouge and Jordan Dezaria dropping out.
The Rhinos travel to the south of France having won their last two Super League games against Salford Red Devils and Castleford Tigers and Brad Arthur’s side will be looking to build on that at the Stade Gilbert Brutus.
Catalans, on the other hand, remain winless having fallen short in games against Hull FC, Warrington Wolves and Leigh Leopards and that ensures the Dragons are under pressure to get a result against Leeds, who haven’t won or even scored a point in France since 2022.
Leeds Rhinos’ 21-man squad: Lachlan Miller, Harry Newman, Ash Handley, Ryan Hall, Brodie Croft, Matt Frawley, Mikolaj Oledzki, Andy Ackers, Keenan Palasia, James Bentley, James McDonnell, Jarrod O’Connor, Sam Lisone, Morgan Gannon, Cooper Jenkins, Jake Connor, Jack Sinfield, Alfie Edgell, Tom Nicholson-Watton, Riley Lumb, Ethan Clark-Wood.
Catalans Dragons’ 21-man squad: Sam Tomkins, Tommy Makinson, Arthur Romano, Reimis Smith, Nick Cotric, Luke Keary, Arthur Mourgue, Benjamin Garcia, Julian Bousquet, Tariq Sims, Elliott Whitehead, Oliver Partington, Alrix Da Costa, Chris Satae, Romain Navarrete, Paul Seguier, Theo Fages, Fouad Yaha, Matthieu Laguerre, Franck Maria.
