Leeds Rhinos news: Max Simpson and Keenan Palasia injury update after 34-0 win v Hull FC
Leeds Rhinos centre Max Simpson has been cleared of serious injury after a scare in today’s 34-0 win at Hull FC.
The 21-year-old’s first Betfred Super League game for three years ended after 65 minutes when he was floored by a high tackle which was placed on report. Play was stopped for around 10 minutes as Simpson was treated on the field before being taken off on a stretcher.
It was a worrying situation, particularly after the youngster’s horrific run of injuries, but Rhinos released a statement on Saturday evening confirming he had been cleared of serious injury. The statement said: “As a pre-caution following soreness to his neck, the Rhinos medical team stretchered Simpson from the field and he was taken to hospital in Hull to be checked over. He was released soon after to return home to Leeds.
“We would like to thank the Hull FC medical staff who were on hand to offer assistance to the Rhinos’ own medical team and the ambulance and hospital staff who looked after Max. We would also like to thank the well wishers from both clubs who have been in touch who saw the incident either at the ground or on Sky Sports.”
Speaking in his post-match press conference, Rhinos coach Brad Arthur said Simpson was “in good spirits” after what he described as a “pretty nasty collision”. He said: “The whole game looks after those neck injuries and takes it very seriously and sometimes it can look worse than it actually is.”
Simpson suffered an ankle injury during Rhinos’ defeat at Toulouse Olympique in July, 2022. Anterior cruciate ligament damage the following January kept him off the field until this summer and he featured in only two reserves games, playing 40 minutes of each, before today’s first team call up.
Simpson was drafted into the side in place of co-captain Ash Handley who has a groin injury and is expected to miss next Thursday’s game at Huddersfield Giants. Leeds welcomed back Mikolaj Oledzki (fractured cheekbone) and Cooper Jenkins (ankle), but fellow prop Keenan Palasia dropped out hours before kick off with a knee problem.
Arthur revealed: “It was this morning - 10am - we made that change. He knew about it after training yesterday, he just said his knee was a bit grumbly from last week. He trained all right Wednesday and Friday, but something stirred it up and we have a short turnaround so we'll see what happens there.”