Leeds Rhinos: Fit-again pack star is put on standby
VETERAN FORWARD Jamie Jones-Buchanan could make his long-awaited return for Leeds Rhinos against Huddersfield Giants tonight.
The six-time Grand Final winner, aged 34, has not played since suffering a quad injury in the Challenge Cup semi-final win over St Helens last July.
He is included in the initial 19 for tonight’s game, but there is still no place for broken toe victim Beau Falloon.
Mitch Garbutt will complete his two-game ban and Carl Ablett, Tom Briscoe Ashton Golding, Danny McGuire and Stevie Ward remain on the long-term casualty list.
Giants are also struggling with an injury crisis. They could welcome back Danny Brough (dead leg), but Jamie Ellis drops out due to a shoulder injury.
Mikey Wood and Tyler Dickinson are both in contention for a call-up.
Leeds Rhinos: from Hardaker, Handley, Watkins, Moon, Hall, Sutcliffe, Lilley, Galloway, Burrow, Singleton, Ferres, Keinhorst, Delaney, Cuthbertson, Achurch, Mullally, Walters, Jones-Buchanan, Baldwinson.
Huddersfield Giants: from Murphy, McGillvary, Cudjoe, S Wood, Foster, Connor, Brough, Rapira, Hinchliffe, Johnson, Ta’ai, Lawrence, Patrick, Smith, Leeming, Mason, Roberts, M Wood, Dickinson.
Referee: Richard Silverwood (Mirfield).
Kick-off: Tonight, 8pm.