Teenager in line for Rhinos debut

Leeds Rhinos Head Coach Brad Arthur has made one enforced change to his 21 man squad for this Friday's clash with Salford Red Devils at AMT Headingley, kick off 8pm.  

Mikolaj Oledzki is ruled out due to fractured cheekbone and eye socket he suffered against St Helens last Friday. His place in the 21 man squad is taken by Academy and Reserves half back George Brown, 18. The former Dewsbury Celtic player was first picked up by the club's Scholarship programme as an Under-14 but opted to play Rugby Union with Yorkshire at the start of 2024. As the season came to a close, he returned to Leeds and marked his first Academy appearance with four tries against Wakefield. He came to the attention of Leeds fans with his impressive performance in the Wetherby Whaler Festive Challenge win over Wakefield on Boxing Day, when he scored the winning try. He has scored 12 tries in eleven appearances across the Academy and Reserves team so far this season. 

Fellow academy product Presley Cassell, 18, is set to make his debut against Salford this week having had experience as 18th man in recent weeks.

Cassell played his junior rugby at West Bowling before being scouted for the club's Scholarship programme ahead of the 2022 season. He was Scholarship Player of the Year in his first season and 2024 Academy Player of the Year last term. Across the Academy and Reserves, Cassell has started 14 games and scored eight tries in total, he is the leading try scorer for the Reserves with seven tries at that level. 

Prop Tom Holroyd has been ruled out for six weeks having had an operation on a scaphoid injury suffered in the win at Hull KR a fortnight ago. Jack Sinfield is still recovering from the minor ankle injury he aggravated recently in the Reserves win at Hull KR. 

The squad in full is:
1. Lachie Miller sponsored by Rhino Safety
3. Harry Newman sponsored by Warners Fish Merchants
4. Ash Handley (CC) sponsored by Roxy
5. Ryan Hall sponsored by GKF Group Ltd
6. Brodie Croft sponsored by Axis
9. Andy Ackers sponsored by Nexa Finance
10. Keenan Palasia sponsored by Tetley’s
11. James Bentley sponsored by YF Furniture
12. James McDonnell sponsored by SO-Trak
13. Cameron Smith (CC) sponsored by Warners Fish Merchants
14. Jarrod O’Connor sponsored by Horbury Dental Laboratories Ltd
15. Sam Lisone sponsored by McNally EV
17. Cooper Jenkins sponsored by BKS Groundworks
18. Jake Connor sponsored by 007 Couriers
21. Alfie Edgell sponsored by Leeds Welding Company
23. Riley Lumb sponsored by Newlay Roofing Ltd
24. Ben Littlewood sponsored by GTD Painting and Property Maintenance
27. Ethan Clark-Wood available to sponsor
28. Kallum Watkins available to sponsor
29. Presley Cassell sponsored by Warners Fish Merchants
George Brown