HANDLEY KO ALERT FOR THE RHINOS
LEEDS winger Ash Handley has added to coach Richard Agar’s pre-season headaches by sustaining a knee injury in his side’s 22-16 friendly defeat to HUDDERSFIELD.
Handley started the game at full-back with key men Jack Walker, Luke Gale and Rob Lui ruled out and Kyle Eastmond not yet ready for his rugby league return.
Agar hopes Gale and Eastmond will be okay to face Wakefield on March 27, but admits Handley is a big doubt before the extent of his medial ligament issue is discovered today.
Agar said: “I’d say he’s already a risk for round one.
“The fact that he’s come off and it’s a medial issue and feels sore – we’re fingers crossed that it’s a low grade.
“But even that would put him in tremendous doubt for the first game.”
Agar also decided not to risk marquee prop signing Zane Tetevano after a heavy week’s training. Handley’s replacement at full-back Jack Broadbent was among the try scorers as the Rhinos restored some respectability to the scoreline after trailing 22-4 in Ian Watson’s first match in charge for Huddersfield.
Australian debutant Jack Cogger touched down for the Giants, who face Hull FC on the opening weekend.
Morgan Escare marked his first appearance in SALFORD colours with a try against his former club as the Red Devils impressed by beating WIGAN 20-6.
Led for the first time by coach Richard Marshall, Salford also scored tries through three-quarters Krisnan Inu, Kallum Watkins and Ken Sio.
Michael Shenton and Jake Trueman both touched down twice as CASTLEFORD beat HULL KR 30-20 in Adam Milner’s testimonial game, while WAKEFIELD eased past Championship side DEWSBURY RAMS 30-10.