Warrington Wolves v Leeds Rhinos: Latest team news
Coach Brian McDermott will select from the team which lost 16-4 in a practice game at Castleford Tigers almost two weeks ago, minus centre/second-row Jimmy Keinhorst.
Closed-season signings Richie Myler (from Catalans Dragons), Brad Dwyer (Warrington) and Nathaniel Peteru (Gold Coast Titans) are all in contention to make their competitive debut and Ashton Golding, Brett Delaney, who had a hamstring injury, and Jack Ormondroyd are the other players added to the team which beat Castleford Tigers almost four months ago.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdMissing from that side are Danny McGuire and Rob Burrow, plus Stevie Ward (shoulder) and Brett Ferres (knee) who underwent surgery after the final and has yet to recover.
Keith Galloway (Achilles) is the only other player on Rhinos’ casualty list.
Mitch Garbutt is included in the initial 19-man squad despite suffering a dead leg in last Friday’s pre-season game at Featherstone Rovers.
Warrington’s squad includes new faces Tyrone Roberts, who played alongside Peteru at Gold Coast, Mitch Brown (from Leigh Centurions), Bryson Goodwin (South Sydney Rabbitohs) and Ben Murdoch-Masila (Salford Red Devils).
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdWarrington Wolves: from Atkins, K Brown, M Brown, Clark, Cooper, Currie, Goodwin, Hill, Hughes, G King, Lineham, Murdoch-Masila, Patton, Philbin, Ratchford, Roberts, Russell, Smith, Westwood.
Leeds Rhinos: from Golding, Briscoe, Watkins, L Sutcliffe, Hall, Moon, Myler, Cuthbertson, Parcell, Singleton, Jones-Buchanan, Ablett, Dwyer, Delaney, Mullally, Garbutt, Peteru, Ormondroyd, Walker.
Referee: Phil Bentham (Warrington).
Kick-off: Tonight, 7.45pm.