Leeds Rhinos news: another player joins Hull FC on loan and set to make debut v Castleford Tigers
Another Leeds Rhinos player has joined teammate Harry Newman on loan at Hull FC.
Giant prop Jeremiah Mata’utia will link up with the Black and Whites on a one-week deal and could feature away to Castleford Tigers on Friday. Newman played for Hull under a similar arrangement last week and that was today (Tuesday) extended for a second game.
Mata’utia moved to Leeds from North Queensland Cowboys in pre-season, having spent last year with Queensland Cup outfit Mackay Cutters. The 21-year-old has made two substitute appearances for Rhinos, the most recent in a home win against Castleford on March 8.
He played for Rhinos’ reserves when they hammered Huddersfield Giants 62-4 three days ago, but Hull are in need of a front-rower after ex-Leeds man Sam Lisone suffered a biceps injury against St Helens last Thursday. He and Newman both trained with Rhinos yesterday, but will now link up with Hull.
Another Leeds forward, Ben Littlewood, has had his one-week loan with York Knights extended for another seven days. He featured in last Friday’s 18-6 loss to Leigh Leopards and is set to play against visitors Toulouse Olympique on Thursday evening. Leeds’ Joe Butterfield is partway through a month’s loan at Hunslet RLFC.
Other fringe players - including Fergus and Ned McCormack, Riley Lumb, Tom Nicholson-Watton, Ethan O’Neill and Presley Cassell - will remain at the club and could turn out for the reserves at home to London Broncos on Saturday, if not selected for the first team against Catalans Dragons the previous evening. The reserves’ game kicks-off at 1pm and is the first part of an AMT Headingley double-header which also features a Women’s Challenge Cup quarter-final against Cardiff Demons at 3.15pm.