Injury blow for Leeds Rhinos as squad to face Hull FC is named
Seumanufagai has missed out on a place in Rhinos’ initial 21-man squad after failing to recover from a knee injury suffered during the pre-season win at Wigan Warriors two weeks ago.
At the start of the week coach Richard Agar was hopeful the New Zealand-born prop - who joined Rhinos from Cronulla Sharks midway through last year - would be available, but his absence could hand an opportunity to highly-rated rookie Tom Holroyd.
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Hide AdThe 18-year-old England academy front-rower made three appearances early last season before being hit by a succession of injuries, but impressed in his comeback match against Wigan.
New signings half-back Luke Gale, prop Matt Prior, second-row Alex Mellor and outside-back Rhys Evans are all in contention to make their competitive debut for Rhinos.
Players on the casualty list alongside Seumanufagai are knee injury victims winger Tom Briscoe, newly-signed hooker Kruise Leeming and prop Dom Crosby, plus centre/second-rower Alex Sutcliffe who suffered a broken hand during Leeds’ warm weather training camp in Spain.
Hull boss Lee Radford could give a debut to recruits Ligi Sao, Jordan Johnstone, Manu, Ma’u, Josh Jones, and Adam Swift.
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Hide AdMahe Fonua, who has rejoined Hull following a spell in the NRL, is also included in a powerful initial squad.
The visitors will be without long-serving hooker and club captain Danny Houghton who underwent surgery on a thumb during the off-season.
This year coaches will name 21-man squads - up from the previous 19 - two days ahead of a game, but will be fined one interchange for every player from outside that group who appears in the matchday 17.
Leeds Rhinos: from Walker, Newman, Hurrell, Handley, Lui, Gale, Prior, Mellor, Martin, Ward, Dwyer, L Sutcliffe, Myler, Cuthbertson, Oledzki, Evans, Smith, McLelland, L Briscoe, Donaldson, Holroyd.
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Hide AdHull: from Shaul, Faraimo, Tuimavave, Griffin, Swift, Connor, Sneyd, Taylor, Satae, Jones, Ma’u, Sao, Kelly, Johnstone, Fash, Lane, Bowden, Savelio, Fonua, Ellis, Naulago.
Referee: Ben Thaler (Wakefield).
Kick-off: Sunday, 4.45pm.