It’s game day at last. After Leeds won a hard-fought cup battle at Widnes last week, it’s time for the proper stuff and Friday night football.
Hopefully, I’ll be watching from the sofa. Friday evenings are usually hectic at our house and despite always planning to be ready for the game at 8.00pm, it’s always touch and go.
The Squads #
A couple of weeks ago noises were coming out of Leigh to suggest they’d be short of a few star players. Umyla Hanley was supposed to be amongst three or four players doubtful for game one of the league season. To my eyes it appears that the situation has improved; the squad announced by the Leopards is strong with only full-back David Armstrong missing. No doubt Bailey Hodgson will ably plug that gap.
Leeds are down on troops. The injury list currently includes: Maika Sivo, Ash Handley, Jake Connor, Mikołaj Olędzki, Keenan Pallasia, Cameron Smith, Alfie Edgell and Jeremiah Mata’utia. Max Simpson is out for the season with an ACL injury — Yikes!
Here are the squads. So much Leopard on that Leigh shirt!
The Game #
This fixture had the potential to be a blockbuster but the Rhinos weakened squad will be an important factor. My heart hopes for an against the odds Leeds win but surely Leigh will be too powerful, especially at home. An honourable loss by fewer than ten points may be a reasonable result. 16-8 to Leigh.
From a Rhinos fan point of view, the fun bit will be watching George Brown making his Super League debut, deputising for the absent Jake Connor.
My stab at the team is: Miller, Hankinson, Newman, N McCormack, Hall, Croft, Brown, Jenkins, O’Connor, Holroyd, McDonnell, O’Neil, Watkins. Subs: Levi, Littlewood, Cassell and Nicholson-Watton.
I hope to be pleasantly surprised and proved wrong.