When most teams name a 21-man squad, a coach has a choice of 21 players when picking his 17 on match day.
Seems obvious right? Well new Leeds Rhinos boss Rohan Smith won’t be making such a call tomorrow shedding light on his team selection well ahead of tomorrow’s must win West Yorkshire derby against Wakefield – the side directly below them in the table.
Not only is it a big game as Leeds look to get back on track after a momentum-stopping defeat against Salford last week as Leeds hope to propel themselves to safety, but it is also a big game for Smith himself being his first at Headingley but only 18 of the 21 he named yesterday will be available for the affair.
That’s because Tom Holroyd and Sam Walters have both been included in Bradford Bulls’ 21-man squad for their game against Newcastle Thunder. They’re also joined by another Rhino in the shape of Muizz Mustapha who recently played for the Rhinos in their win over Hull KR.
👥 | Interim Head Coach Mark Dunning has named his @ASNDoors 21-Man Squad for this Saturday's Round Twelve clash with Newcastle Thunder!
📖 | Full details!
🎟️ | https://t.co/ZY0SNKRfj7#RISE
— Bradford Bulls (@OfficialBullsRL) May 19, 2022
Set to play for the Bulls, both Walter – who played against Salford last week – and Holroyd have seemingly been ruled out of Leeds’ game tomorrow with Holroyd being named in Leeds’ last two 21-man squads only to ply his trade elsewhere as he gets back from injury having played for the Rhinos’ reserves last week.
TEAM NEWS | Here it is.. our U18s squad to take on @OfficialBullsRL
tonight is in!Find out more ▶️ https://t.co/LRBN7RzoNF pic.twitter.com/8wweXmNh3s
— Leeds Rhinos (@leedsrhinos) May 19, 2022
The other player now ruled out for the game, is Jack Sinfield. The impressive youngster has shone in recent weeks for the first team but after being the 18th man for the Rhinos last week has returned to play for the under 18s tonight and has already nailed three conversions as Leeds battle the Bulls.
This means Rohan Smith will have to pick 17 from David Fusitua, Liam Sutcliffe, Ash Handley, Blake Austin, Mikaloj Oledzki, Kruise Leeming, James Bentley, Rhyse Martin, Zane Tetevano, Brad Dwyer, Richie Myler, Cameron Smith, Bodene Thompson, Morgan Gannon, Jack Broadbent, Jarrod O’Connor, James Donaldson and Zak Hardaker who may switch positions based off what Smith said in his press conference this afternoon
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