Leeds Rhinos will welcome back five players to their side this week, as the club prepare to take on York Knights.
The Rhinos host their first game of the Super League campaign on Friday night, and will play the newly-promoted side for the first time in the club’s history.
The game is set to be played in front of a packed Headingley crowd, and their voices will be even louder after knowing that as many as five players could return to the field.
Brad Arthur gave an injury run-down to the press ahead of the game, and his words will be music to the ears of the blue and amber faithful.
Asked who is in the mix for this week’s clash, the boss revealed: “Maika [Sivo] will make his debut for the club and the Super League. Jake Connor will be back, Keenan will be back, Cameron Smith will be back, and Jerry [Mata’utia].
“Jerry will make his debut in the Super League and for the club. Those five guys are handy additions into the team. Some of them might not be exactly 100 per cent, but they’re good enough to get out there and play.
“…I’m pretty proud of these guys’ efforts to get themselves available, and push themselves back into contention for this week. Obviously, they’ve got to get through training today.”
Sivo has been at the club since 2025, but after an ACL injury in January of that year, he is yet to make a competitive appearance for the club.
Connor was rested for the Challenge Cup victory over Widnes, before a knee injury ruled him out of the season opener.
Mikey Lewis’ moment of madness, shock Super League results and World Club Challenge Preview – Click here to watch the latest episode of The Serious About Rugby League Show
Leeds Rhinos boss provides injury update
Despite the good news, Leeds still have a number of players in the medical room, and two of them are former England internationals.
Max Simpson and Alfie Edgell are out for the long-term, but two players that also could have been in contention for a return are Mikolaj Oledzki and Ash Handley.
Prop forward Oledzki suffered a rib injury in the Cup win, and his injury time frame has also been confirmed, and he will unfortunately miss the club’s game in Las Vegas.
“He didn’t need surgery, which is great,” explained Arthur. “But, he’s a best case four, four to six [weeks]. [It’s] not great news for him in terms of next week, but he understands that it’s part of the game, unfortunately.”
On Handley, the boss revealed: “He’s a little bit cranky with me that I didn’t even try and give him the opportunity to play this week. He’s getting very close.
He’ll be training today as well, but we haven’t considered him in the 21. He probably hasn’t done enough of a training load and too big a risk. The other guys have done plenty of training and they’re not at risk.”
Rugby League News
York Knights star sent to hospital as second key man also injured
