Leeds Rhinos' triple boost for Super League derby clash with Huddersfield Giants
Leeds Rhinos will welcome back three first-choice players when they take on Huddersfield Giants at St Helens on Friday.
Centre Konrad Hurrell replaces teenage loose-forward Jarrod O’Connor in the only change to the initial 21-man squad named for last week’s postponed game against Wakefield Trinity, but James Donaldson has been given the all-clear to make his comeback from a back fracture suffered in the win over Huddersfield on August 2.
He was named in the squad to face Wakefield, subject to a final scan. Fellow second-rower Alex Mellor has also had an extra week to get over his knee injury.
“James Donaldson is definitely back in the mix, along with Alex Mellor and Konrad Hurrell,” coach Richard Agar confirmed.
“We have got a bit more experience fit and good to go, available to us with another week of training under their belt.”
O’Connor would have featured away to Catalans Dragons four days ago, along with loan signing James Harrison, but that fixture was also postponed.
Agar confirmed players not in the 21 remain on stand-by in case anyone in the squad fails a temperature check at the ground.
Adam Cuthbertson (back) and Cameron Smith (jaw) both miss a second successive game through injury.
Giants have Ashton Golding, Jake Wardle, Darnell McIntosh, Aidan Sezer, Michael Lawrence and new signing Chris McQueen all available after missing the 54-6 defeat by St Helens a week ago.
Dominic Young and Reiss Butterworth drop out. Half-back Lee Gaskell remains on Giants’ injury list.
Leeds Rhinos: from T Briscoe, Newman, Hurrell, Handley, Lui, Gale, Seumanufagai, Leeming, Prior, Mellor, Martin, Dwyer, L Sutcliffe, Myler, Oledzki, Thompson, McLelland, L Briscoe, Donaldson, A Sutcliffe, Holroyd.
Huddersfield Giants: from Golding, McGillvary, Jake Wardle, Turner, McIntosh, Sezer, Gavet, O’Brien, Edwards, Joe Wardle, Lawrence, English, Wilson, Cudjoe, Holmes, Russell, L Senior, Hewitt, Wood, Trout, McQueen.
Referee: Scott Mikalauskas (Leigh).
Kick-off: Friday, 8.15pm, at TW Stadium, St Helens.
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