LEEDS RHINOS head coach Brad Arthur has explained that he is “happy to help” Salford Red Devils with loan players if it “is in the best interests” of his players.
Salford were unable to fulfil their Super League fixture against Wakefield Trinity last weekend due to a lack of available players and concerns over player welfare.
The week before in an 80-6 thrashing by Hull FC, the Red Devils played Riley Lumb and Ben Littlewood after Leeds loaned the pair to the flailing Super League club.
Those two loans were only on a one-week basis, meaning neither Lumb nor Littlewood were able to play for Salford against Wakefield – with Littlewood playing a key role in Leeds’ 64-6 demolition of Castleford Tigers instead.
After being asked whether or not the Rhinos would help out Salford if the opportunity arose, Arthur said: “We don’t have any players playing for Salford this weekend.
“We are happy to help where we can as long as it is in the best interests of our players.
“We made a decision two weeks to give to Salford and Ben Littlewood benefitted. He got 80 minutes for Salford last week and then I was able to trust him against Castleford.
“He got 50 minutes against Castleford because he had already had some work in his legs.
“If we get in a position where they need that assistance, we would look to do it.”