Star signing passes fit for Leeds Rhinos as they take on Castleford Tigers

Super League’s Rival Rounds kicks off tonight with Castleford Tigers welcoming Leeds Rhinos to The Jungle as Craig Lingard’s side looks to get their first Super League win of the season on the board.

Craig Lingard opened up his account with his first win as head coach of Castleford Tigers when Cas toppled Lingard’s former club Batley Bulldogs in the Challenge Cup at the weekend in what many fans had predicted as being a potential upset.

The Tigers will look to build on that with tonight’s clash against Leeds Rhinos with Rohan Smith’s side having lost back-to-back games against St Helens, however, the Rhinos do remain heavy favourites for the win.

Leeds were actually able to name an unchanged 21-man squad for the game which was a boost because it meant that centre Paul Momirovski’s ankle injury in last week’s loss to Saints wasn’t as bad as potentially first feared.

The NRL signing had been expected to miss the 21-man squad completely but was included and set to be monitored throughout the week, however, fellow back David Fusitu’a still remains unavailable after his surgery.

It wasn’t as good news for Castleford Tigers with Lingard confirming that full-back Luke Hooley is set to be sidelined for at least five weeks, whilst a handful of other players have picked up knocks.

A shoulder injury has ruled Hooley out from playing against his former club and that will see Jack Broadbent start at full-back once again but all eyes will be on if overseas signing Daniel Hindmarsh-Takyi will feature.

Rohan Smith tinkers with his Leeds Rhinos side

The teams have now been confirmed and the big decision has seen Rohan Smith shuffle the deck with the passed-fit Momirovski back in the centres and Rhyse Martin move into the pack again.

That has seen James McDonnell drop to the bench and Luis Roberts claim a spot on the wing opposite Super League’s leading try scorer Ash Handley for Leeds Rhinos.

As for Castleford, they’ve seen the experience of Liam Watts and Paul McShane start a Super League game together for the first time this season whilst second-rower Elie El-Zakhem returns which is a huge boost.

Danny Richardson returns to pair Jacob Miller after Rowan Milnes’ injury with Richardson having finally overcome complications following his failed HIA earlier in the season.

Castleford Tigers 17-Man Squad

3 Jack Broadbent
2 Josh Simm
18 Josh Hodson
4 Sam Wood
5 Innes Senior
6 Danny Richardson
7 Jacob Miller
10 George Lawler
9 Paul McShane
8 Liam Watts
11 Elie El-Zakhem
12 Alex Mellor
13 Joe Westerman
Interchanges:
14 Liam Horne
19 Sam Hall
27 Albert Vete
30 Luis Johnson

Leeds Rhinos 17-Man Squad

1 Lachlan Miller
24 Luis Roberts
3 Harry Newman
4 Paul Momirovski
5 Ash Handley
6 Brodie Croft
7 Matt Frawley
8 Mikolaj Oledzki
9 Andy Ackers
17 Justin Sangare
11 James Bentley
12 Rhyse Martin
13 Cameron Smith
Interchanges:
Sam Lisone
Jarrod O’Connor
James McDonnell
Mickael Goudemand