Leeds Rhinos will be without captain Ash Handley for around three weeks after the centre suffered from appendicitis, with his appendix ultimately removed.
It means he will miss around three weeks and he is one of three Leeds players to drop out from the squad for the Rhinos’ trip to face Castleford on Sunday afternoon.
The Tigers aren’t in incredible health themselves with their team news also confirmed after last week’s bruising and narrow loss to Leigh Leopards.
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Castleford Tigers team news
Ryan Carr only makes one change though the club may still be sweating on the fitness of Krystian Mapapalangi with Carr revealing at Thursday’s presser that the centre was still nursing his injury that ruled him out last week.
So too was Jordan Lane after he picked up a hip flexor in that match, however, both men are named as the only change made by Castleford is for Joe Westerman to make his return from injury as Louis Senior drops out.
Castleford Tigers 21-man squad: Semi Valemei, Mikaele Ravalawa, Daejarn Asi, Tom Weaver, Renouf Atoni, Liam Hood, George Lawler, Jordan Lane, Alex Mellor, Joe Stimson, Jack Ashworth, Joe Westerman, Jason Qareqare, Krystian Mapapalangi, Jenson Windley, Sam Hall, Cain Robb, Ashton Golding, Phoenix Laulu-Togaga’e, Tyler Dupree, Jack Brown
TEAM LIST 📋 Your 21 to take on the Rhinos this Sunday ⚫️🟡🐯https://t.co/wzPGdV9Khz
🤝 Bowkirk Kitchens & Bedrooms#COYF #Tigers #RugbyLeague pic.twitter.com/bdWcReMjK2
— Castleford Tigers (@CTRLFC) July 17, 2026
Leeds Rhinos team news
Brad Arthur has been forced into three changes and they’re three big ones. As confirmed mid-week, Keenan Palasia is out with a foot injury that will rule him out for six weeks but both Ash Handley and Jarrod O’Connor also drop out.
Handley has had to have his appendix removed after suffering from apendicitis earlier in the week with the recovery from that expected to sideline him for three weeks. As for O’Connor, he suffered from a delayed concussion so also misses out.
Jack Bird, Zak Lloyd and Ben Littlewood are the trio who come into contention to replace the injured players with Bird a likely straight swap with Handley.
Leeds Rhinos 21-man squad: Lachie Miller, Maika Sivo, Harry Newman, Brodie Croft, Jake Connor, Mikolaj Oledzki, Tom Holroyd, Kallum Watkins, James McDonnell, Chris Hankinson, Cooper Jenkins, Cameron Smith, Presley Cassell, Alfie Edgell, Riley Lumb, Danny Levi, Ben Littlewood, Tom Nicholson-Watton, Fergie McCormack, Jack Bird, Zak Lloyd
Changes for Leeds Rhinos ahead of trip Castleford Tigers this Sunday, find at out all the team news here https://t.co/o18ygzi9vG pic.twitter.com/E1DC863Rv9
— Leeds Rhinos (@leedsrhinos) July 17, 2026
