JAMES McDONNELL has been frustrated following his injury, but he insists that he will be fit and raring to go regardless ahead of Leeds Rhinos’ semi-final play-off clash against Warrington at Headingley on Friday night.
The Rhinos finished second on the Super League ladder, so they did not have a game in the first week of the play-offs.
That extra time has allowed McDonnell, who was recently named in the 2026 Super League Dream Team, another week of recovery following a pectoral injury that has kept the backrower out of Leeds’ last five matches.
Though frustrated by being sidelined, McDonnell is chomping at the bit to return this Friday.
“I will be alright for the semi-final. I should be near 100 percent by then. If I’m not quite 100 percent, I will be playing regardless,” McDonnell said.
“It’s been somewhat of a rest but I have still been training pretty hard. I have been missing the games and the contact is a different level of fatigue, so I am feeling pretty fresh.
“The time off should be beneficial for me, though it has been frustrating to miss the last five games.
“It’s frustrating not being able to have an impact in games. You can speak up in training and team meetings, but games is what you measure things by.”
Alongside his inclusion in the Dream Team, his teammates Lachie Miller, Maika Sivo, Ash Handley, Brodie Croft and Jake Connor were all named as well.
But McDonnell believes the entire operation at Headingley deserves recognition.
“The six players have all achieved good individual accolades and it is a good representation of the squad and backroom staff – the people who are there every day in training,” he said.
“It’s a good achievement for them too. They should be recognised as well because to have six members in the Dream Team reflects how well they have done.
“It is a nice personal accolade. After getting it last year, it was something personal to retain.
“It was a bit of a surprise this year because my game time has been a lot less at the back end of the season.”