Picking the team for Easter Monday is always problematic for head coaches, but for Jamie Jones-Buchanan, selecting his seventeen for Leeds Rhinos' game with Castleford Tigers is particularly tricky. The Rhinos have lost Jack Walker to a hamstring injury, leaving them short of yet another spine player. Richie Myler, Aidan Sezer and Corey Johnson are all still on the sidelines and as a result, the Rhinos are seriously short of options in creative areas.
Arise Jack Sinfield.
It appears that the time may well have arrived for the Rhinos to unleash Sinfield junior who is, of course, Kevin Sinfield's 17-year-old son. The interim coach had hinted that it may be too soon for the teenager but with Sezer still struggling with a groin problem, he may have little choice but to throw the youngster in at the deep end after his heroics in the club's under 18s triumph over Wigan Warriors on Thursday.
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The first issue is at fullback. Liam Sutcliffe moved to that position after Walker was withdrawn against Huddersfield Giants and while Jack Broadbent has previously played in that position, it appears more likely that he will be recalled in his favoured position of centre given Liam Tindall is also out through injury. That would move Tom Briscoe to the wing, with Broadbent taking the centre spot.
Sutcliffe has deputised in the halves during Sezer's absence but with him now occupied elsewhere, captain Kruise Leeming is likely to move into the position he operated in so well last year. The knock on effect of that is that Brad Dwyer starts at hooker, but that's where the issues start. With Johnson injured, Leeds only have one hooker and it's unlikely that Dwyer will feature for 80 minutes.
That's where Sinfield comes in. He could take a spot on the bench and replace Dwyer during the game, moving to the halves and allowing Leeming to move to his specialist position. There is another alternative where Max Simpson could be given the nod at centre, allowing Broadbent to play fullback. That would leave Sutcliffe in the halves with Blake Austin and as a result, Dwyer and Leeming would be left to focus on the hooking role. That would mean Sinfield didn't feature. Either way, it's likely that one of the 17-year-olds will play.
The other big decision for Jones-Buchanan comes in his pack. Zane Tetevano will likely be asked to double up given he will sit out two games through suspension after this West Yorkshire derby. Given Leeds need a win, the temptation will be to go as strong as possible but with a huge game against Toulouse coming up on Friday, the Rhinos need to have one eye on that game between Super League's bottom two sides.
Tetevano's ban will heighten the need for Leeds to have their front line forwards available for Friday night and as a result, it wouldn't be a surprise if Matt Prior is rested. The forward is 34 now and with Tetevano missing will be asked to play bigger minutes in the two games after this. As such, the opportunity to rotate middles is likely to be considered. Jarrod O'Connor had a fine pre-season and has earned an opportunity. Tetevano moving to prop would give Prior a rest and facilitate a move onto the bench for O'Connor, with Cameron Smith the starting loose forward.
Another probable change comes on the bench. Bodene Thompson is in the squad and given he didn't feature on Thursday, it should be expected that rotation will see him come in. James Donaldson, another forward with plenty of miles on the clock, would be an obvious player to make way.
Predicted Leeds Rhinos line-up: Liam Sutcliffe, Tom Briscoe, Jack Broadbent, Alex Mellor, Ash Handley, Blake Austin, Kruise Leeming, Mikolaj Oledzki, Brad Dwyer, Zane Tetevano, James Bentley, Rhyse Martin, Cameron Smith: Subs: Morgan Gannon, Jarrod O'Connor, Bodene Thompson, Jack Sinfield.
Missing out: Matt Prior, James Donaldson, Muizz Mustapha, Max Simpson.
