Leeds Rhinos’ big guns are back for derby date with Castleford Tigers

Boss Richard Agar has named 16 of Rhinos’ Coral Challenge Cup winning side in his initial 21-man squad for the second of what could be six games in 17 days.

Only prop Adam Cuthbertson, who suffered a season-ending shoulder injury, misses out from Rhinos’ Wembley line-up.

Agar rested most of Leeds’ senior players for last Friday’s trip to St Helens, but Jack Walker, Brad Dwyer, Mikolaj Oledzki, Bodene Thompson, Cameron Smith, James Donaldson, Luke Briscoe, Alex Sutcliffe and Tom Holroyd are in contention to back up from that 40-8 defeat.

Rhinos captain Luke Gale is among the players recalled for what will be his first game for Leeds against his former club.

Tigers coach Daryl Powell could give a debut to academy product Cain Robb who has been named in Castleford’s initial 21 for the first time.

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Robb, a hooker, is an England Youth player and was named in the national academy training squad earlier this year.

Jake Trueman, who has been struggling with a back injury, is set to return for Tigers and Liam Watts, Oliver Holmes, James Clare, Tyla Hepi, Matt Cook, Gareth O’Brien and Dan Fleming are also vying for a recall.

Adam Milner, Nathan Massey, Jacques O’Neill, Rhinos academy product Brad Martin and Bailey Hodgson drop out from the team which beat Hull KR last Thursday.

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Tigers had been due to visit Rhinos on October 9, but that game was postponed after several positive coronavirus tests in the Castleford camp.

Tomorrow’s game is Rhinos’ home fixture. The return match, on Friday, November 6, will also be played at Emerald Headingley.

Leeds Rhinos: from Walker, T Briscoe, Hurrell, Handley, Lui, Gale, Seumanufagai, Leeming, Prior, Mellor, Martin, Dwyer, L Sutcliffe, Myler, Oledzki, Thompson, C Smith, L Briscoe, Donaldson, A Sutcliffe, Holroyd.

Castleford Tigers: from Olpherts, Shenton, Trueman, Richardson, Watts, McShane, Holmes, McMeeken, Sene-Lefao, Foster, Blair, D Smith, Moors, Clare, Cook, Hepi, Eden, Peachey, O’Brien, Fleming, Robb.

Referee: Tom Grant (Leeds).

Kick-off: Tomorrow, 7.45pm.

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