Harry Newman has suffered a new hamstring injury, with no timescale put on a return to action. The Leeds Rhinos centre left the field in visible distress during last Friday's victory over Hull Kingston Rovers, with scans now confirming Newman has again picked up a hamstring problem.
However, this is a completely new problem, as opposed to a reoccurrence of the one that put him on the sidelines at the beginning of this year. He has started his rehabilitation programme but Leeds confirmed on Tuesday morning that Newman will be out for an undetermined period of time, immediately throwing into doubt his availability for the remainder of the season.
It is worrying news for England supporters too, with Newman's recent form suggesting he was a strong contender for a place in Shaun Wane's World Cup squad later this year. There is now a nervous wait to find out just how long the mercurial centre will be out of action for.
Newman was not the only Rhinos player to leave the field with an injury last Friday. Forward Cameron Smith suffered a nasty wound to his hand, which has now been stitched. He will return to training when that issue fully heals. Bodene Thompson also left the field with a rib injury, and he has been sent for further scans to determine the severity of the problem.
Elsewhere, youngster Max Simpson and forward James Donaldson have both undergone surgery in recent weeks to correct ankle and knee problems respectively. They are now working their way back towards full fitness.
Meanwhile, senior trio James Bentley, Kruise Leeming and Tom Briscoe are expected to return to training in the near future.
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