Betfred Super League Grand Final: Injured forward Stevie Ward named in Leeds Rhinos 19-man squad for Old Trafford
Injured forward Stevie Ward has been named in Leeds Rhinos' initial 19-man squad for Saturday's Betfred Super League Grand Final against Castleford Tigers.
Ward suffered a dislocated shoulder in Rhinos’ semi-final win over Hull last Friday and appeared to have been ruled out of the Old Trafford showdown.
But he has been named in an unchanged squad and Rhinos say the 23-year-old will be given as long as possible to prove his fitness.
Rhinos coach Brian McDermott will select from the 17 who beat Hull, plus full-back Ashton Golding and centre/second-rower Jimmy Keinhorst.
Keinhorst is likely to step into the matchday side if Ward misses out. McDermott’s other major decision is whether to select 18-year-old rookie Jack Walker ahead of Golding at full-back.
Walker was recalled to the team, in place of Golding, last week.
Forwards Keith Galloway (Achilles) and Brett Delaney (hamstring) are the only senior players on Rhinos’ casualty list.
Rhinos’ initial 19-man squad is: Golding, Briscoe, Watkins, Moon, Hall, McGuire, Burrow, Parcell, Cuthbertson, Jones-Buchanan, Ablett, Ward, Sutcliffe, Singleton, Garbutt, Keinhorst, Ferres, Mullally, Walker.