Leeds Rhinos v Leigh Leopards latest team news & 21-man squads as Ian Blease addresses concussion glut

Seven Rhinos players will miss Friday’s visit of Leigh Leopards because of concussion, but Blease denied Rhinos are taking a more cautious approach to head injuries than their rivals. Centre Harry Newman, winger Ash Handley and props Tom Holroyd and Sam Lisone - who were both among the substitutes - are unavailable after head knocks in last Saturday’s 18-10 defeat at Hull FC.

Morgan Gannon won’t play this year owing to concussions sustained in pre-season and Andy Ackers and James Bentley remain on the long-term casualty list with a similar issue. Questioned at a press conference today (Thursday) about the glut of head injuries, Blease noted: “My experience is all clubs have to adhere to the protocols and we have done that well.”

The former Salford Red Devils administrator said: “I complimented the doctor on Monday when I walked through the door and saw what was happening. Credit to the medical staff, they are looking after our players which is foremost in our minds.”

He added: “On the injury situation, every club gets them - some worse than others. We have a good backroom staff here and we will work with the injured players. Every club gets them, but it’s how you come through them.

“We have got a good squad and some youth coming through. It is still a great team that can go out and do a job and that’s what we are looking for.”

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Rhinos have three potential debutants in their 21-man squad to face Leigh. Leeds-born front-rower Sam Eseh has been brought in on a four-week loan deal from Wigan Warriors and 20-year-old Toby Warren is in Super League contention for the first time, alongside fellow forward Ben Littlewood.

Littlewood was a non-playing squad member last week and full-back Alfie Edgell and scrum-half Jack Sinfield also retain their place. Rookie centre Ned McCormack is drafted in and on-loan Warrington Wolves winger Matty Russell could make his second Leeds appearance after recovering from concussion and a knee injury.

Ex-Leeds man Rob Mulhern could return for Leigh and fellow prop Aaron Pene, signed from Melbourne Storm, is set to make his debut. Front-rower Nathan Wilde, half-back Ben McNamara and winger Darnell McIntosh are vying for a place in the 17, but stand-off Gareth O’Brien is ruled out from the side which won at Catalans Dragons last week.

Leeds Rhinos: from Miller, Fusitu’a, Momirovski, Croft, Frawley, Oledzki, Martin, C Smith, O'Connor, McDonnell, Sangare, Goudemand, Sinfield, Johnson, Warren, Edgell, Nicholson-Watton, McCormack, Littlewood, Russell, Eseh.

Leigh Leopards: from Hardaker, Leutele, Charnley, Moylan, Lam, Amone, Ipape, Mulhern, O’Donnell, Hughes, Norman, Davis, Halton, Trout, Chamberlain, McNamara, Wilde, Hanley, Dwyer, McIntosh, Pene.

Referee: Chris Kendall (Huddersfield). Kick-off: Friday, 8pm.