Leeds Rhinos news: star back in doubt for season-opener as coach Brad Arthur issues injury update
Leeds Rhinos have close to a clean bill of health with less than a month to go until the new season, but a star name is in doubt.
Coach Brad Arthur’s side will begin their competitive campaign away to either Widnes Vikings or Thatto Heath Crusaders in the Betfred Challenge Cup third round on the weekend of February 7-8. They travel to Leigh Leopards for a Super League opener on Friday, February 13.
Rhinos have picked up one serious injury in pre-season and a casualty from last year has yet to be given the all-clear, but – speaking at today’s (Wednesday) club media day – coach Brad Arthur confirmed everyone else is fit. Definitely ruled out is full-back Alfie Edgell, who is three weeks into a 14-16 week recovery after suffering a thigh injury in the win over Wakefield Trinity on Boxing Day.
Though Leeds have two more pre-season matches to get through, at this stage the only other player who could be unavailable for Super League round one is winger Maika Sivo. The Fijian Test star joined Leeds from NRL club Parramatta Eels ahead of last season, but didn’t play a competitive game in 2025 after an anterior cruciate ligament tear in a January pre-season match.
Sivo said last month he is hopeful of being available for the start of the campaign, but boss Arthur is taking a cautious approach. He said: “Maika is the only one who is touch and go. Outside of him and Alfie, everyone else is good to play. Maika is a big man, so we’ve taken it a bit slower and we need to make sure we get it right.
“There’s 27 rounds, it’s a long season, so it’s just making sure he’s completely comfortable, we are completely comfortable and we’ve got enough running into him. It’s just a week-to-week proposition at the moment. He’s extremely close, but it’s hard to put a date on it.”
If Sivo is sidelined, the versatile Chris Hankinson, who played at stand-off on Boxing Day, could start on one of Rhinos’ wings, though Riley Lumb is another option after scoring 11 tries in 18 games last year.