Leigh Leopards have somewhat of a selection problem heading into their clash with Warrington Wolves, with their main concerns coming in the back-line.
After boss Adrian Lam said that both Owen Trout and Joe Ofahengaue should be back in the 17 for Saturday’s game, their forward options have been given a huge boost.
The same can’t be said for their three-quarters, with the duo of Tesi Niu and Jack Hughes both a major doubt for the contest.
The pair both lined up in the centres in victory over Toulouse, but suffered injury with Lam saying directly after the win that he expects both players to be missing this week.
Niu and Hughes have been named in the club’s 21-man squad, but in his pre-match press conference earlier this week the PNG man was less than hopeful that they could make the matchday side.
Former Dolphins player Niu is one of Leigh’s first choice centres, but with Umyla Hanley, Keanan Brand and now Hughes out as well, it means that the Leopards now have four of their centres on the sidelines, leaving them in quite the pickle.
“I’m not sure at the moment, to be honest with you,” Lam said to the press earlier this week. “We’ve got [AJ] Towse that’s probably another week injured as well.
“When you look at Towse, Hanley and Brand, we were hoping one [return] would come from there.”
Willie Peters, Brad Arthur’s Leeds Rhinos future, RTS and Rivals Round previewed – Click here to watch the latest episode of the Serious About Rugby League Show
Son of Super League legend set for debut
With those injuries comes opportunity for another youngster to get their crack at Super League, and this week is set to be the first appearance for the son of former Man of Steel, Danny Brough.
Will Brough has been in the Leigh set-up for a number of seasons after originally coming through the Wakefield Trinity system. He is seen as the “next man up” according to boss Lam.
He said: “Will Brough.. he’ll come into picture there. He’s probably the next one in now and then we’ll see who else we can adjust to make sure that that works for us.”
Asked if Brough is ready for his maiden appearance, the boss said: “He’ll have to be.
“He’s had a couple of pre-seasons with us now and he’s had a couple of long-term injuries as well, which hasn’t been good because he’s certainly a player that I think has got a lot of ability and will get there.
“Whether or not he’s ready and right this weekend, we’ll see. If we get the captain’s run and he’s the one, then he is ready. We’ll give him all the support he can get as well.
“He’s a good lad, very popular with the group. He’s always smiling, but there’s a rugby player in there that I’m looking forward to seeing at some point, whether it’s this weekend or in the future. He can play, so we’re excited.”
