Leeds Rhinos have named their side for this Sunday’s World Club Challenge against North Queensland Cowboys – with youngsters Liam Sutcliffe and Jordan Lilley in the halves.
The Rhinos, depleted due to injuries at the beginning of the season to the likes of captain Danny McGuire and England internationals Tom Briscoe and Carl Ablett, will play the rookie half-back pairing against Johnathan Thurston’s Cowboys, with Sutcliffe and Lilley set to square off against the Golden Boot winner and half-back partner Michael Morgan.
There is also a surprise on the Leeds bench, as Anthony Mullally will be handed a debut for the club during Sunday’s clash against the NRL champions.
Mullally, who signed from Huddersfield in the off-season, is yet to make an appearance for the Rhinos in 2016 but will appear off the bench for Brian McDermott’s men.
Leeds Rhinos team: Hardaker, Handley, Moon, Watkins, Hall, Sutcliffe, Lilley, Galloway, Burrow, Cuthbertson, Ferres, Delaney Singleton. Interchange: Garbutt, Keinhorst, Walters, Mullally.
As for North Queensland, they have named the exact same 17 players that won the NRL Grand Final in such dramatic circumstances last year.