Boss Brad Arthur says Leeds Rhinos’ latest signing will have to wait for his debut.
Utility-forward Joe Shorrocks trained with Rhinos today (Tuesday) for the first time after joining them from Salford Red Devils on a loan deal until the end of this season.
The 25-year-old former Wigan Warriors man has been named in Leeds’ initial squad to face Betfred Super League leaders Hull KR on Thursday, but Rhinos’ boss Arthur confirmed: “I won’t be playing him this week.”
He said: “We’ve got a long turnaround into next week’s game so we will see how he goes. It helps that he knows people here [former Salford teammates Kallum Watkins and Chris Hankinson] and he has got a wealth of experience behind him. He slotted in pretty easy and comfortable today.”
Outlining why Shorrocks was brought in, Arthur – whose side thrashed Castleford Tigers 64-6 last Saturday – explained: “We are only one injury in the forwards away from having no one to put there, really.
“I think with some of the games we’ve got coming up, it would be unfair to put some of those kids out there straight away. We’d like to ease them in in other ways, rather than in these big games.”
Leeds Rhinos to be unchanged versus Hull KR
Shorrocks can play hooker, second-row or loose-forward and Arthur said he will play “somewhere in the middle” when he gets his chance.
“He competes hard and he can play a number of roles – it just depends on what’s needed and when it’s needed,” he added.
“He has come here looking for an opportunity and when you start getting some troops back it builds healthy competition for spots and keeps everyone trying to play and train their best.”
Long-term casualty Mikolaj Oledzki is also set to sit out this week’s game, despite being named in Rhinos initial squad.
Oledzki has missed four games with a fractured cheekbone and the coach said: “He is borderline, so it might be better to push him out another week.
“He has done plenty of training; physically, I don’t think he’s a guy who will ever lose too much.
“We just need to make sure he is in a good head space and he’s comfortable. It was a serious injury so taking that extra week will be the best thing for him.
“We will go with the same 17; those guys did a good job and we don’t really have anyone coming back anyway.”
