Leeds Rhinos are without Maika Sivo for tonight’s Super League semi-final against Warrington Wolves with the competition’s top scorer another massive absentee for the Headingley club.
It was then reported by Serious About Rugby League’s sister site The Yorkshire Evening Post on Thursday the doubts around Sivo, and Brad Arthur has now made a decision, with the Fiji international missing out and replaced by Riley Lumb.
The Rhinos have been hit hard with a string of injury issues in their outside backs in the run-up to this game after having previously lost full-back Lachie Miller to a hamstring injury in the round 26 defeat to Wigan Warriors.
Miller’s injury saw Dream Team centre Ash Handley move to full-back but in a cruel twist of fate, Handley and fellow centre Jack Bird suffered back and hamstring injuries, respectively, which ruled the pair out of tonight’s semi-final.
Meanwhile, Warrington have no such worries with Sam Burgess able to name the same XIII that defeated Hull KR last week, with the Wolves boss making just one change on the bench.
Red card stupidity, Willie Peters’ legacy, and Super League Grand Final predictions – Click here to watch the latest episode of the Serious About Rugby League Show
Leeds Rhinos team news
The Rhinos have named their matchday 17 and Maika Sivo is not involved with the Rhinos having a massively reshuffled backline.
Brad Arthur had confirmed that Fergie McCormack would be the man to fill in at full-back and that is the case, but the vacant centre spot has been filled by Chris Hankinson, whilst Sivo is replaced by Riley Lumb.
Hankinson, who has played second-row most of the season, is replaced by the returning James McDonnell as Presley Cassell drops to the bench alongside Cam Smith, Tom Holroyd and Cooper Jenkins.
Leeds Rhinos XIII: Fergie McCormack, Riley Lumb, Harry Newman, Chris Hankinson, Ryan Hall, Brodie Croft, Jake Connor, Mikolaj Oledzki, Jarrod O’Connor, Matt Lodge,James McDonnell, Kallum Watkins, Keenan Palasia
Interchanges: Tom Holroyd, Cameron Smith, Cooper Jenkins, Presley Cassell
Your Leeds Rhinos team to face Warrington Wolves, kick off 8pm – 80 minutes away from Old Trafford pic.twitter.com/kclGUgJPez
— Leeds Rhinos (@leedsrhinos) September 25, 2026
Warrington Wolves team news
Sam Burgess was able to name an unchanged 21-man squad but he’s still had a big decision to make regarding who plays full-back with Josh Thewlis the man selected to do the job last time out, ahead of the club’s number one Cai Taylor-Wray.
Taylor-Wray has missed the majority of the season through injury and he misses out again tonight as Sam Burgess makes just one change to his 17-man squad.
Sam Powell is named on the bench instead of utility Leon Hayes, suggesting that Ewan Irwin is over any injury fears that saw Hayes named as a back-up last week.
Warrington Wolves XIII: Josh Thewlis, Albert Hopoate, Arron Lindop, Toby King, Matty Ashton, George Williams, Ewan Irwin, Liam Byrne, Danny Walker, James Harrison, Sam Stone, James Bentley, Ben Currie
Interchanges: Luke Yates, Sam Powell, Joe Philbin, Kelepi Tanginoa
Unchanged 13 💪
Williams x Irwin in the halves 🪄
Powell comes onto the bench 🔄Your Wire line-up for the semi-final – time to get to work! 🐺 pic.twitter.com/80GvwLzFc2
— Warrington Wolves (@WarringtonRLFC) September 25, 2026
