Leeds Rhinos v Leigh Leopards team news as key forward drops out through injury

Leeds Rhinos and Leigh Leopards face off for the first time this season with third place in Super League up for grabs.

The Super League scheduling has meant that these two sides have been kept apart so far but they now meet in Round 16 with both teams flying high.

Leeds are coming off the back of a loss as they fell 18-4 to St Helens last Friday, and that defeat was taken advantage of by Leigh who leapfrogged the Rhinos into third place when they beat Catalans on the weekend.

Defeat meant that Leeds slipped up in their chase to close the gap on second, something that they could have cut to just two points given Wigan’s loss against Wakefield Trinity.

Looking ahead to Friday night’s meeting between the Rhinos and Leopards at Headingley, both head coaches have named their 21-man squads for the clash.

Leeds Rhinos team news

Brad Arthur makes two changes to his side, one of which is forced. Morgan Gannon left the game against St Helens in a boot and it’s now been confirmed that the shin injury he sustained has ruled him out for this match.

Outside back Ethan Clark-Wood is the other man to drop out and the pair are replaced by youngsters Alfie Edgell and Presley Cassesll, with loose forward Cassell still yet to make his highly-anticipated Leeds Rhinos debut.

Brad Arthur has been unchanged in his matchday squads of late but there will definitely be a change this week with Gannon out and that could see someone like Cooper Jenkins handed a spot, having played well in the reserves of late.

Leeds Rhinos 21-man squad: Lachie Miller, Harry Newman, Ash Handley, Ryan Hall, Brodie Croft, Mikolaj Oledzki, Andy Ackers, Keenan Palasia, James Bentley, James McDonnell, Cameron Smith, Jarrod O’Connor, Sam Lisone, Cooper Jenkins, Jake Connor, Tom Holroyd, Jack Sinfield, Alfie Edgell, Riley Lumb, Kallum Watkins, Presley Cassell

Leeds Rhinos Head Coach Brad Arthur has named his 21 man squad to face Leigh Leopards this Friday at AMT Headingley, kick off 8pm.

Book your ticket now https://t.co/NJM0GDj784

— Leeds Rhinos (@leedsrhinos) June 25, 2025

Leigh Leopards team news

Adrian Lam only names 20 this week with Alec Tuitavake dropping out as the only change. The forward misses out after copping a one-game ban in the latest disciplinary wrap.

Davd Armstrong and Gareth O’Brien were among the 50/50 calls last week, the first due to injury and the second on account of Ben McNamara’s form, but both came through fine and they’re named once again.

Leigh Leopards 20-man squad: David Armstrong, Darnell McIntosh, Tesi Niu, Umyla Hanley, Josh Charnley, Gareth O’Brien, Lachlan Lam, Owen Trout, Edwin Ipape, Robbie Mulhern, Frankie Halton, Jack Hughes, Isaac Liu, Matt Davis, Brad Dwyer, Keanan Brand, Ethan O’Neill, Ben McNamara, Bailey Hodgson, Joe Ofahengaue

🐆 𝗦𝗤𝗨𝗔𝗗 𝗧𝗢 𝗙𝗔𝗖𝗘 𝗟𝗘𝗘𝗗𝗦

This is the squad Adrian has selected for Round 16 pic.twitter.com/vHDimzcQkz

— Leigh Leopards (@LeighLeopardsRL) June 25, 2025