Leeds Rhinos have been dealt a major injury blow in their Round Two Super League clash with Salford Red Devils.
The Rhinos have been plagued with injuries in the first 40 minutes of the game with playmaker Matt Frawley sent from the field when on account of blood after he saw his hand suffer a gash, whilst co-captain Cam Smith left with a side injury.
However, the third was the most serious and concerning injury with former Salford Red Devils man and ex-Man of Steel Brodie Croft forced to leave the field just minutes before half-time.
The Leeds Rhinos number six was running the ball approaching the Salford line but jinked back inside and was caught on the head by Red Devils forward Joe Shorrocks.
There was a major reduction in the height of Croft but the contact was still deemed forceful meaning that Shorrocks was sent to the sin bin, whilst Croft and Shorrocks’ own teammate Jack Ormondroyd left the field as a result of the head contact.
Croft was stretchered from the field with referee Liam Moore giving his verdict afterwards, resulting in a Rhinos penalty which they knocked over to stretch the lead to 16-6 at half-time.
At the point when Croft left the field, Leeds were leading 14-6 with the Rhinos having come from behind thanks to tries from Morgan Gannon and Riley Lumb, the latter scoring two.
Salford had opened the scoring within just 90 seconds with Marc Sneyd’s incredible 40/20 bomb earning the home side great territory just 45 seconds in.
From that position, former Rhinos man Kallum Watkins was able to crash over to give the Red Devils the dream start.
Riley Lumb scored in the corner before Morgan Gannon stretched over to give the Rhinos the lead. A second for Lumb soon came thanks to a slick passing move to the left.
We have got 2:48 left in the first half, Brodie is being put on the stretcher now to be carried from the field, we will update you as soon as we know more about how he is
Salford Red Devils 6 – 14 Rhinos 37′— Leeds Rhinos (@leedsrhinos) February 22, 2025
