Less than a week out from round one of Super League and we’ve predicted how Leigh Leopards and Leeds Rhinos could line up for their bumper clash.
It’s the first Super League game that the Rhinos will play since their heartbreaking end to the 2025 season, when St Helens snatched a win at Headingley to progress to face Hull KR.
This clash is the only game in round one of Super League featuring two 2025 play-off teams, both of whom will want to go further in 2026.
Adrian Lam’s side have played just once in pre-season whilst the Rhinos played three times including a tricky away test in the Challenge Cup yesterday.
Brad Arthur had been hoping that the Rhinos wouldn’t pick up any more injuries, having seen four suffered in their recent pre-season clash with Bradford, some of which will affect his round one selection, though Leeds did lose one key man.
Know your Super League? Serious About Rugby League have a Fantasy Super League comp. Join it now and compete against our writers. PIN: 12433 Password: SARL2026
How Leigh Leopards could line up to face Leeds in round one
Adrian Lam confirmed to Serious About Rugby League at the Super League season launch that he would only have 19 players available for the Challenge Cup tie against North Wales Crusaders on Saturday evening, and with their clash against Leeds coming just six days later, there is cause for concern.
Full-back David Armstrong, who wasn’t expected to return for this game anyway, has had a setback in his recovery and is now more likely to return in April but the more impactful injury news regarding this game features Dream Team player Umyla Hanley who has damaged his AC joint, putting him at risk of missing round one.
Isaac Liu also missed that tie though this status for longer is unclear. Matt Davis suffered a gash on his leg that could see him miss out.
Predicted Leigh Leopards XIII: Bailey Hodgson; Keanan Brand, Innes Senior, Tesi Niu, Josh Charnley; Adam Cook, Lachlan Lam; Joe Ofahengaue, Edwin Ipape, Robbie Mulhern; Frankie Halton, Owen Trout, Isaac Liu
Interchanges: Jacob Alick-Wiencke, Liam Horne, Jack Hughes, Aaron Pene
How Leeds Rhinos could line up to face Leigh in round one
Injuries will affect how Brad Arthur’s side lines up with a couple of players certain to miss this one, whilst others could be 50-50. One of those who could make it is captain Ash Handley who suffered a groin injury in the win over Bradford with the club’s medical update of 28th January stating the centre would need two weeks to recover.
As such, he could return but given Handley’s injury issues late in 2025, it may be wise to allow him to rest and utilise utility Chris Hankinson, though youngster Ned McCormack or even Kallum Watkins could be options. Reported signing Jack Bird could even be in the door and available by then though such a quick turnaround is unlikely.
Watkins is less likely given the fact that fellow starting second-rower James McDonnell is out for a number of weeks, meaning Ethan O’Neill could debut against his former club. Another big issue in the pack is the fact that Mikolaj Oledzki suffered a rib injury in the Challenge Cup win over Widnes with Cam Smith also picking up a knock, with the former a doubt for the game.
Former Parramatta Eels winger Maika Sivo, who hasn’t played a competitive game for Rhinos after rupturing anterior cruciate ligaments 13 months ago sat out Saturday’s tie and won’t make round one with Arthur stating: “He won’t play [Super League] round one. The plan at the moment is he is on track and on target to be ready for round two”.
Whether Arthur starts with Danny Levi or Jarrod O’Connor is to be seen but both will work together with Keenan Palasia the likely loose forward, supported by Cam Smith on the bench, providing he comes through the injury concern from the Widnes game.
Predicted Leeds Rhinos XIII: Lachie Miller; Riley Lumb, Harry Newman, Chris Hankinson, Ryan Hall; Brodie Croft, Jake Connor; Cooper Jenkins, Danny Levi, Tom Holroyd; Kallum Watkins, Ethan O’Neill; Keenan Palasia
Interchanges: Jarrod O’Connor, Ben Littlewood, Cameron Smith, Presley Cassell
