Leeds Rhinos are expected to be close to full-strength for next weekend’s elimination play-off at home to St Helens.
The Rhinos fielded a makeshift back division when they were beaten 22-6 at Wigan Warriors in the final round of the regular Betfred Super League season, which confirmed them in fourth place on the table.
Centre Ash Handley (groin) and scrum-half Jake Connor (rib) were again missing and full-back Lachie Miller (calf muscle) and winger Ryan Hall (rib) dropped out from the side which lost to Catalans eight days earlier, along with hooker Andy Ackers (back) who was 18th man against the Dragons.
But speaking after the game at Wigan, upbeat Leeds coach Brad Arthur insisted: “As long as no one trips over getting on the bus, we are getting out of here injury-free and we get four back next week. We are good to go, come the weekend – barring Maika [Sivo] and Cameron Smith – we should be close to our best team.”
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Leeds Rhinos boss confirms co-captain set for return
Handley has missed four matches since being injured in a home win against Hull KR last month and Arthur admitted having him back is a huge boost.
“His leadership has really grown this year and he has got some class too. Sometimes in those tight games, when there’s a bit of an arm wrestle, you need a bit of class and quality to step up and break the game up – come up with a flick pass or a grubber behind them or an offload or a line-break. He’s the sort of guy that can come up with that for you.”
The Rhinos coach stressed co-captain Handley has “done extremely well” to beat the odds and be available for the play-offs.
“We probably didn’t think it was possible,” he admitted. “But our high performance guys have done a really good job to get him right. Ash has had to buy into that and push himself to get himself right as well. It just shows the want and desire from him.”
