Leeds Rhinos will be without one of their most influential players for at least the next two games.
Co-captain Ash Handley has been ruled out of Saturday’s visit to Hull FC and the match at Huddersfield Giants five days later, coach Brad Arthur confirmed today.
Handley joins fellow outside-backs Maika Sivo, Ethan Clark-Wood and Alfie Edgell on the casualty list, but Mikolaj Oledzki is ready to return from a five-game absence and fellow prop Cooper Jenkins could be available this weekend after two matches out of the side.
Handley is ever-present at centre for Rhinos this year, but has been struggling with a groin issue and limped out of last Friday’s 28-6 win over Hull KR.
Speaking at his weekly preview press conference, Arthur said: “He is struggling a bit. We still haven’t got a full grip on exactly what’s happening.
“I know he will be out for a couple of weeks and we are going to see if it settles. He’s seeing some specialists at the moment, but he definitely won’t be playing for the next couple of weeks.”
Arthur admitted: “He has been great. It is a blow, but we’ve had plenty of those this year and we have worked really hard not to focus on it.
“It is more disappointing for Ash as an individual because of how well he has been playing. He has really developed into that leadership role of being a captain, but – again – other blokes need to step up into the role.
“It’s not so much the guy who takes the position, other guys have got to step up and own their jobs.
“I feel like we’ve done that for most of the season and last week was evidence of that. We were down four starting middles, the guys who were out there did their job and Keenan [Palasia] rose to the occasion and really led from the front. It just puts some more responsibility and accountability on some other blokes in the team.”
Clark-Wood has a shoulder injury and won’t play again this year and Arthur said Edgell’s foot injury is “close” to being season-ending.
Winger Riley Lumb could come into the side at Hull and Arthur revealed centres Max Simpson and Ned McCormack are also options.
Simpson has played only two reserve games since suffering a knee injury in the 2023 pre-season. McCormack featured for Leeds Rhinos’ second-string two weeks ago, ending 13 months on the sidelines with a hamstring issue.
Arthur said: “We’ve got Ned and Max, we can make some adjustments to the forward pack – we’ve been toying around with a few things and will make a final decision on Friday.”
The situation in the forwards is more encouraging. Arthur confirmed Oledzki (fractured cheekbone) and Jenkins (ankle) both trained today and said: “I think Mik’s definite [for Saturday] and Cooper, we’ll see how he pulls up tomorrow, but he looked to be pretty good.”
