Brad Arthur has laid out Leeds Rhinos’ path to victory and insisted that his side’s injury issues are ‘not an excuse’.
The Rhinos are without a host of key men in the back line with Lachie Miller, Ash Handley, Jack Bird, and Super League’s top try scorer Maika Sivo all missing out.
Miller’s absence was known well before this game but each of Handley, Bird and Sivo have pulled up with injuries in the run-up to this match, meaning Fergie McCormack starts at full-back in just his fourth Super League game.
Meanwhile Riley Lumb is named on the wing and Chris Hankinson starts at centre in a major reshuffle, however, Brad Arthur has told Sky Sports that there’s no reason his side cannot progress to Old Trafford.
“It’s been a bit of a disruptive week but it’s not an excuse,” the Leeds Rhinos boss said.
“You go through the whole season with weeks where boys are training in different positions and blokes don’t train all week and just play in the game.
“We’ve had blokes filling in in the centres the last couple of weeks, Chris Hankinson, Riley Lumb has done a bit on the wing. We’re prepared as we can be.”
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 boss sets out tasks and gameplan to beat Warrington Wolves
Arthur was also insistent that a win is dependent on his side’s attitude, maintaining that if they respond accordingly and with the right attitude, then they can do what they need to do.
“The attitude has been excellent to the response around the injuries so that’s all we can control,” he said.
On those tasks, he said: “If you have a look at our forward pack, it’s very very strong. I’ve got everyone available bar Danny Levi so we’ve got to be nice and tough and gritty through the middle of the field.
“Then on the back of that, Jake Connor and Brodie Croft, one of the best halves combinations in the game, need to prove that tonight. They need to control our end of sets and turn the ball over on our terms.
“Our outside backs have to make sure they carry hard out of the backfield. Everybody has a different role and we need 17 guys contributing.”
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
