Super League started with a bang on Thursday night as York Knights stunned champions Hull KR but Friday night could be set to explode as well with two bumper games including Leigh Leopards versus Leeds Rhinos and Warrington Wolves versus St Helens, with team news for both matches now confirmed.
Leigh versus Leeds marks the only game of round one to feature two teams who made the Super League play-offs in 2025, however, the bigger story could well be at the sold-out Halliwell Jones Stadium where Paul Rowley begins his reign as head coach of St Helens.
After watching his side hammer Castleford in pre-season and then score 98 points in the Challenge Cup, Saints face their first true test but they’ve had a hammer blow on the eve of the season with captain Matty Lees ruled out for 10-12 weeks.
Warrington meanwhile are welcoming their captain back ahead of his final year with George Williams set to leave for the NRL in 2027, with the half previously revealing how intent he is to sign off on a high.
Team news for both teams has now been confirmed with kick-off slated for 8:00 pm in each match.
Leigh Leopards and Leeds Rhinos team news
The big story heading into this was the fact that Leeds were without nine of their first team squad, including captain Ash Handley, Man of Steel Jake Connor, and forward enforcers Keenan Palasia and Mikolaj Oledzki.
That’s seen them turn to teenager George Brown in the halves with Brown only making his competitive debut last weekend against Widnes in the cup, albeit at full-back.
The Rhinos were set to be without James McDonnell for the opening few rounds of the season, but the back rower has made a speedy recovery on a syndesmosis injury, and has managed to be fit enough to start in round one.
Ethan O’Neill will partner him in the back row, as he returns to the Leigh Sports Village for the first time since his exit this off-season.
As for Leigh, they had 11 missing for their cup tie but they’re almost back to full strength for this one, with the likes of Joe Ofahengaue and Liam Horne returning after their respective knocks.
However, Umyla Hanley has not been deemed fit enough to play. Adrian Lam said earlier in the week he would be leaving the decision as late as possible, to allow him to fully heal from a shoulder injury, but he has not made the 17 for round one.
Leigh Leopards XIII: Bailey Hodgson, Innes Senior, Tesi Niu, Keanan Brand, Josh Charnley, Adam Cook, Lachlan Lam, Owen Trout, Edwin Ipape, Robbie Mulhern, Frankie Halton, Jacob Alick-Wiencke, Joe Ofahengaue
Interchanges: Jack Hughes, Matt Davis, Andrew Badrock, Liam Horne
Leeds Rhinos XIII: Lachie Miller; Ryan Hall, Harry Newman, Chris Hankinson, Riley Lumb; Brodie Croft, George Brown; Cooper Jenkins, Jarrod O’Connor, Tom Holroyd; James McDonnell, Ethan O’Neill, Kallum Watkins
Interchanges: Danny Levi, Presley Cassell, Ben Littlewood, Tom Nicholson-Watton
Warrington Wolves and St Helens team news
Warrington are still without star winger Matty Ashton whilst off-season signing James Bentley was ruled out with a back issue, however, Sam Burgess has been able to field a very strong side with NRL recruit Toafofoa Sipley making his debut after being banned throughout the pre-season.
St Helens have had to try their best to replace Matty Lees and Rowley has chosen David Klemmer and George Delaney to start in the front row. Jackson Hastings partners Tristan Sailor in the halves with Jack Welsby at full-back as the Red Vee look to find some spine consistency after the lack of it troubled them so much in 2025.
Warrington Wolves XIII: Cai Taylor-Wray; Josh Thewlis, Toby King, Albert Hopoate, Josh Smith; George Williams, Marc Sneyd; Luke Yates, Danny Walker, Liam Byrne; Sam Stone, James Harrison; Ben Currie
Interchanges: Kelepi Tanginoa, Jordy Crowther, Toafofoa Sipley, Joe Philbin
St Helens XIII: Jack Welsby; Kyle Feldt, Harry Robertson, Nene Macdonald, Deon Cross; Tristan Sailor, Jackson Hastings; George Delaney, Daryl Clark, David Klemmer; Shane Wright, Matt Whitley; Joe Shorrocks
Interchanges: Alex Walmsley, Jacob Host, Jonny Lomax, Owen Dagnall
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