Super League Medical Report: Leeds, Wigan stars set to miss play-offs as Hull FC veteran plays final game for club

Super League clubs such as Leeds Rhinos, Wigan Warriors and Hull FC have picked up some key injury blows following Round 26 of the competition.

It was a huge week in terms of the play-off race, but the big talking points from this week’s games are the blows that some sides have suffered, including Super League’s top two.

The first big injury news came before kick-off in the Warriors’ meeting with Leeds, as centre Jake Wardle was a name omitted from the team sheet. He was replaced by Zach Eckersley in the centres, with Austin Daniel getting a rare start on the wing.

Boss Matt Peet has confirmed that Wardle has pulled his calf and is set to miss around four weeks of action. With the Grand Final just 26 days away at the time of publication, the star man faces a race against time to prove his fitness ahead of a potential Old Trafford trip.

Then, in a horror start for Leeds, the home side lost influential full-back Lachie Miller to a hamstring injury just six minutes into the contest. That forced a big reshuffle, with Chris Hankinson moving from back row to full-back, and Zak Lloyd coming on earlier than expected.

Miller is believed to have torn his hamstring and is now a huge doubt to be part of Leeds’ play-off campaign. Teenager Lloyd also suffered a rib injury, and is highly unlikely to play next week against Hull FC.

Speaking of FC, veteran prop Ligi Sao has played his final game for the club, having failed a HIA in the defeat to Toulouse. Sao will join Bradford Bulls next year.

Teammate Lewis Martin looked to suffer a back injury after being hurt in the act of scoring, whilst Amir Bourouh played the opening 20 minutes of the game despite being “under the weather”, per Andy Last. Toulouse full-back Olly Ashall-Bott has potentially cracked a few ribs after landing awkwardly whilst scoring.

Castleford Tigers prop Renouf Atoni has potentially suffered an Achilles injury, having pulled out in the warm-up ahead of their game against Bradford. Staying in West Yorkshire, Huddersfield pair Sam Halsall and Mathieu Cozza are done for the year with Halsall potentially breaking his leg and Cozza suffering a HIA.

In the game between Leigh Leopards and St Helens, returning Leigh man Keanan Brand lasted just 40 minutes in his first game since March. The centre/winger suffered an injury to the same ankle that has kept him sidelined for the majority of 2026. Saints back rower Shane Wright also failed a HIA in the game, meaning he has played his final game of 2026.

Lastly, Warrington prop Sam Stone failed a HIA in defeat to Wakefield Trinity, meaning he will miss next week’s clash with Toulouse.