Leeds Rhinos could welcome back up to six players when they face Catalans at Headingley next Wednesday, head coach Richard Agar has revealed.
The Rhinos’ line-up has been disrupted by injuries and Covid-19 complications, while their fixture schedule is set to intensify in the next week with three games in nine days, including their Challenge Cup semi-final against Wigan.
Ahead of their mid-week clash with the Dragons, though, four players are due to return from self-isolation, while two are close to completing recovery from injury but Agar insists no one will be rushed back onto the field.
“All being well, the four players (self-isolating) could be in contention for next week,” he said. “It’s not certain yet but they could all be in contention for the Catalans game, albeit with little preparation.
“Brad Dwyer’s obviously our main concern because he contracted Covid and had a couple of really rough days, so we need to see how he pulls through.
“His return to play protocols I think start this weekend, but he’s had the virus so we need to see how he comes back in terms of any adverse effect it may have caused him.
“It’s really frustrating for Koni and Bodene. As yet they’ve shown no symptoms, (it’s the) same with Corey Hall. They wouldn’t get much prep into the Catalans game in terms of training so we’ll assess their status in the 48 hours before.
“Cam Smith gets tested on his jaw, so he goes for a scan and x-rays on Thursday afternoon. If that’s all healed and mended, he will be available to play next week.
“If he’s still going through the healing process then we can’t risk him but he’s been training with us. He’s obviously not been doing contact but he feels fine, he’s got his weight back up a little bit, he certainly doesn’t look like he’s missed a beat fitness-wise.
“(Jack Walker) is touch and go. Obviously with the semi-final coming up, Jack’s got his eyes on that and is pushing towards making himself available. I think with such a long injury, and the fact he’s had a setback with it, it’s fair to say we would need to see Jack play to consider him in contention for the semi-final.
“Having said that, there’s a lot of situations rising at the moment so we wouldn’t rule anything out or in, but he’ll be a long shot.”
This Friday (September 25) is Super League’s transfer deadline, with several clubs still reportedly looking to bolster their rosters before their squads are locked in.
Agar, however, is happy with the side he has and insists the Rhinos have more than enough in terms of depth.
He added: “We’re not looking externally, because the players I’ve talked about on the horizon coming back gives us at this point a relatively fit and healthy squad.
“Going into a semi-final, we really don’t want to play as many players as we can on that Wednesday game, knowing that failure of any head tests rules someone out of a semi-final.
“So we have got some spots to play for, which is why Koni, Brad Dwyer, perhaps Walker and Cam Smith will feature in that game from a point of view of proving their fitness and getting some game time under their belt.
“But we’re in a position where we’ve got close to two different 17’s if we need them and we think that’s going to be vital on the run-in.”