Leeds Rhinos know they need to bounce back to winning ways on Friday night when they take on Salford Red Devils at Headingley.
Brad Arthur’s side failed to find the answers needed to break St Helens down last weekend and ultimately lost 6-0.
That saw the Rhinos drop down to fifth in the Super League table, but with St Helens and Leigh Leopards facing each other this week, the door is open for them to climb the league ladder once more with a win.
Salford will be no pushovers, particularly after their win over Castleford Tigers last Sunday, but Leeds will be the big favourites and all the pressure will be on them.
Here’s how we think both sides will line up on Friday night.
For Leeds, the most notable change comes in the front row with Mikolaj Oledzki ruled out with a facial injury. Oldezki fractured his cheekbone last time out against St Helens and with Tom Holroyd out with a scaphoid injury that requires surgery, Leeds are short of options up front.
Keenan Palasia looks likely to start alongside Cooper Jenkins through the middle with Sam Lisone on the bench, and all three will need to play big minutes, it seems. However, the Rhinos look set to bring in Presley Cassell for a debut.
The young loose-forward is highly rated and he’ll be keen to make an impression at Headingley. James Bentley will likely come off the bench to play through the middle, while Kallum Watkins is set for an interesting night against the side he left in April.
It’s a flip of a coin between Riley Lumb and Alfie Edgell on the edge, with Andy Ackers looking set to come off the bench once more to spell Jarrod O’Connor at hooker.
Salford have lost Esan Marsters, Jayden Nikorima and Loghan Lewis to injury, meaning there will be changes to Paul Rowley’s side. Toby Warren is eligible to play against his parent club though and he should start at centre.
Kai Morgan is the most obvious option to play in the halves, unless Rowley opts for a reshuffle that would see Ryan Brierley step into the line, Chris Hankinson or Nathan Connell moving to full-back and Charlie Glover named in the starting line-up.
Either way, Oliver Russell looks set to play his second game on loan at the Red Devils. The starting pack could well be unchanged, while it would not be a surprise to see Justin Sangare, Matty Foster, Harvey Wilson and Finley Yates named as the bench options.
Predicted Leeds Rhinos v Salford Red Devils line-ups
Leeds Rhinos: Lachie Miller; Riley Lumb, Harry Newman, Ash Handley, Ryan Hall; Brodie Croft, Jake Connor; Keenan Palasia, Jarrod O’Connor, Cooper Jenkins; Kallum Watkins, James McDonnell; Cameron Smith.
Bench: Andy Ackers, James Bentley, Sam Lisone, Presley Cassell.
Salford Red Devils: Ryan Brierley; Ethan Ryan, Toby Warren, Chris Hankinson, Nathan Connell; Kai Morgan, Oliver Russell; Jack Ormondroyd, Joe Mellor, Chris Hill; Dan Russell, Tom Whitehead; Joe Shorrocks.
Bench: Justin Sangare, Matty Foster, Harvey Wilson, Finley Yates.
James
July 18, 2025 at 2:14 pm
No amount of selling this game will make it any less one sided or will make the points Salford’s. Irrespective of the causes or reasons the SC restrictions on the Red Devils have made them into an uncompetitive unit and also, in all likelihood will guarantee their relegation. No matter why this happened neither can be placed entirely at their own feet. A cap restriction supposedly to keep them afloat has destroyed their chances of even making a minimal fist of this period.
I think they’ll still go out of business and that seems preferable to a season where they have no chance of winning games.