Leigh Leopards v Leeds Rhinos latest team news as Brad Arthur reveals plan for Jarrod O'Connor & Danny Levi

Danny Levi will make his Betfred Super League debut for Rhinos in tonight’s (Friday) round one fixture at Leigh Leopards and could share the field with Jarrod O’Connor who was the competition’s top tackler last year. Leeds’ number nine is known as an 80-minute player and when Levi was signed in pre-season it wasn’t clear how the pair would be utilised.

However, both featured in last Saturday’s Challenge Cup win at Widnes Vikings, with O’Connor starting at hooker and then shifting to loose-forward when Levi came off the bench and that could become a familiar pattern in 2026.

Referees are set to enforce a faster ruck this year and Arthur reckons that will suit Rhinos’ two acting-halves. “Have a look at them and what they bring to your team, they are too both too good not to be in your 17,” he said.

“They way the game is being interpreted now, having those two guys in will definitely help. Jarrod is really good in terms of his flexibility, he can go and fill a spot anywhere. After 25 minutes last week he went and played the rest of the game in the middle for us, he was our best defender and he had some good carries in behind the ruck. He has a nice pass in his game as well, he has learned that role a bit better as a utility-role and a 13-role.”

Rhinos are without nine of their first team squad tonight. Jake Connor is ruled out after picking up a knee injury in training and Mikolaj Oledzki (ribs) and Cameron Smith (groin) were hurt in the win at Widnes. They join Ash Handley (groin), Alfie Edgell (thigh) and knee injury victims Keenan Palasia, Maika Sivo, Max Simpson and Jeremiah Mata’utia on the casualty list.

James McDonnell (ankle) and Chris Hankinson (broken nose) could feature after sitting out last week’s tie. Lachie Miller returns at full-back so George Brown will move from into the halves for his Super League debut. Umyla Hanley is back in contention for Leigh after a shoulder injury kept him out of their 60-6 Cup win at North Wales Crusaders.

Leigh Leopards: from Brand, Niu, Hanley, Charnley, Cook, Lam, Ofahengaue, Ipape, Mulhern, Halton, Trout, Liu, Alick-Wiencke, Davis, Horne, Hodgson, Senior, O’Brien, Hughes, Badrock, Wilde.

Leeds Rhinos: from Miller, Newman, Hall, Croft, O’Connor, Holroyd, Watkins, McDonnell, Hankinson, Jenkins, O'Neill, Cassell, Lumb, Levi, N McCormack, Littlewood, Nicholson-Watton, G Brown, F McCormack, O Brown, Stead.

Referee: Tom Grant. Kick-off: Friday, 8pm.