Rohan Smith gives update on Leeds Rhinos quartet after injury worries
September 23, 2022, Manchester, Greater Manchester, United Kingdom: Ash Handley 5 of Leeds Rhinos arrives at Old Trafford Stadium ahead of the 25th Betfred Super League Grand Final match St Helens vs Leeds Rhinos at Old Trafford, Manchester, United Kingdom, 23rd September 2022. Manchester United, ManU Kingdom - ZUMAn307 20220923_zsa_n307_020 Copyright: xJamesxHeaton/NewsxImagesx
One of the most important things in any pre-season game is coming out of the game without injuries.
So, did the Leeds Rhinos come away from today’s defeat to Wakefield Trinity without major injury.
Speaking after the game, Rohan Smith gave an update on three players who left the game early:
“James McDonnell was always going to get 40 minutes. He played in the World Cup with Ireland He didn’t perhaps as much prep but was fit and rearing to go, I wanted to give him an opportunity in front of the home crowd.
“Kruise felt if he had had a few more minutes he would have been alright. In a proper game we probably don’t make that substitution.
“Ash Handley had some sort of core niggle. He was only going to play half a game anyway.”
He also revealed that Jack Sinfield didn’t play because of injury:
“Jack had a groin issue a couple of weeks ago that helped him back out of training for 10 to 12 days then he had an illness on the back of that.
“He’s sort of back to full training, but for an 18 year old kid I wasn’t going to put him out.”