LEEDS RHINOS welcome back Jack Bird and Tom Holroyd for their much-anticipated clash against St Helens on Thursday.
Bird returns to the squad after minor knee surgery three weeks ago whilst Holroyd is back in contention having missed the last game against Huddersfield Giants with a back injury.
Lachie Miller, meanwhile, will miss the second game of his three-match suspension.
Meanwhile, St Helens boss Paul Rowley is forced into two changes with Noah Stephens being stood down after coming off the field at Castleford Tigers following a failed Head Injury Assessment.
Jackson Hastings, following the match against the Tigers, was issued a two-match penalty notice and so will be unavailable this week as well as next week’s fixture at home against Warrington Wolves.
That means that Rowley has called up youngsters George Whitby and Alfie Sinclair into the 21-man squad.
SQUADS
Rhinos: 2 Maika Sivo, 3 Harry Newman, 4 Ash Handley, 5 Ryan Hall, 6 Brodie Croft, 7 Jake Connor, 8 Mikolaj Oledzki, 9 Jarrod O’Connor, 10 Tom Holroyd, 11 Kallum Watkins, 12 James McDonnell, 13 Keenan Palasia, 14 Chris Hankinson, 15 Cooper Jenkins, 17 Cameron Smith, 20 Presley Cassell, 22 Riley Lumb, 23 Danny Levi, 26 Tom Nicholson-Watton, 28 Fergus McCormack, 33 Jack Bird
Saints: 1 Jack Welsby, 2 Kyle Feldt, 3 Harry Robertson, 4 Mark Percival, 5 Deon Cross, 6 Tristan Sailor, 7 Jonny Lomax, 8 Alex Walmsley, 9 Daryl Clark, 11 Curtis Sironen, 12 Shane Wright, 13 David Klemmer, 15 George Delaney, 16 Matt Whitley, 17 George Whitby, 20 Lewis Murphy, 22 Joe Shorrocks, 24 Owen Dagnall, 28 Jake Davies, 29 Alfie Sinclair, 30 Tom Humphreys
Referee: Jack Smith
STATS
Last ten meetings:
Leeds 14, St Helens 16 (SL-E, 27/9/25)
Leeds 0, St Helens 6 (SLR18, 11/7/25)
St Helens 18, Leeds 4 (SLR15, 20/6/25)
Leeds 17, St Helens 4 (SLR10, 3/5/25)
(at St James’ Park, Newcastle)
St Helens 22, Leeds 14 (CCR4, 14/3/25)
St Helens 40, Leeds 10 (SLR12, 24/5/24)
Leeds 6, St Helens 20 (CCR6, 22/3/24)
Leeds 8, St Helens 18 (SLR5, 15/3/24)
St Helens 22, Leeds 18 (SLR20, 28/7/23)Leeds 12, St Helens 13 (aet) (SLR13, 26/5/23)
Super League summary
Leeds won 34 (includes wins in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2011 Grand Finals & 1998, 2005, 2013 and 2015 play-offs)
St Helens won 51 (includes win in 2022 Grand Final & 1999, 2001, 2007, 2008, 2021 and 2025 play-offs)
Leeds highest score: 74-16 (H, 2001) (Widest margin: 70-0, H, 2004)
St Helens highest score: 62-18 (H, 1999) (Widest margin: 48-0, A, 2020)
ASH HANDLEY needs one appearance to reach 250 for Leeds Rhinos.
– Debut: London Broncos (a) (SL) (L40-36) (Centre) (17 August, 2014)
CHRIS HANKINSON needs one appearance to reach 100 (Super League).
– 19 for Leeds Rhinos (2025-2026)
– 33 for Salford Red Devils (2024-2025)
– 25 for Toulouse Olympique (2022)
– 22 for Wigan Warriors (2018-2020)
(including play-offs & Super League Super 8s)
ASH HANDLEY needs two tries to reach 150 for his career.
– 137 for Leeds Rhinos (2014-2026)
– 6 for Featherstone Rovers (2016-2018, loan/dual-registration)
– 5 for England (2021, 2023-2024)
(0 for England Knights, 2018)
ASH HANDLEY needs four points to reach 500 (Super League).
– 496 for Leeds Rhinos (2014-2026)
(including play-offs & Super League Super 8s)
JONNY LOMAX needs one appearance to reach 350 (Super League).
– 349 for St Helens (2009-2026)
(including play-offs & Super League Super 8s)