Good news for Croft is offset by Lumb blow for Rhinos

LEEDS Rhinos half-back Brodie Croft has been cleared of serious injury but young team-mate Riley Lumb is facing a long lay-off with a torn hamstring.

Both players limped off in the first half of last week's victory over London Broncos to join Rohan Smith's lengthy list of casualties.

Croft is targeting the game at St Helens on May 24 after being ruled out of Saturday’s trip to Catalans Dragons.

"Brodie has a minor groin issue that will keep him out of this week's game but he'll most likely return after the break," said Rhinos boss Smith, who confirmed Matt Frawley would return to partner Jack Sinfield in the halves.

"Lumby has done a decent hamstring. He's going to see a consultant to see whether surgery will be required but it'll be a lengthy layoff either way."

Lumb scored two tries in a memorable debut at Hull FC before seeing his home bow cut short inside the opening minute.

Smith has backed the teenager to come back stronger from the setback.

"It's the highs and lows of professional sport," added Smith.

"He's a great young kid, though, and lives for playing footy. It's disappointing because he showed us what he can do, not only in the Hull match but in the pre-season and training at the start of the season. It's a bump in the road but he'll be back, for sure."

Smith remains without frontline forwards Tom Holroyd, James Bentley and Morgan Gannon, who are all following the concussion protocol, as well as outside backs Paul Momirovski and David Fusitu'a.

Momirovski is targeting a return in June after learning the extent of the ankle issue picked up in the recent win at Hull.

"Paul has got a four-to-six-week injury," said Smith, who could welcome back Holroyd against Saints but will be without Bentley for another two months.

"He's healing really well and the physios are happy with his progress so far.

"He'll be in a boot for a bit longer and then we'll start the rehab process."

The Rhinos have been without star centre Harry Newman for the last two games due to a back problem but he is pushing to be fit for the trip to Perpignan.

"Harry trained yesterday," said Smith during Wednesday's press conference. "He had a good run around and we'll see how he is tomorrow.

"We'll get through that morning session and then make an assessment about whether he's going to be right to travel."