Almost five months on from Leeds Rhinos' last competitive game, the big day has arrived. Rohan Smith's team open the season with a trip to Warrington Wolves as the Australian gets his first full campaign underway.
Already, he has issues to contend with. There are four players unavailable who most would have as starters if they were fit. Harry Newman, Nene Macdonald, Mikolaj Oledzki and James Bentley will all miss the game. But it is the fact two centres are missing that has left Smith with a problem he has tried to find a solution to for most of the pre-season.
In four trial games, seven players spent at least some time in the position. One of them, Levi Edwards, has now left. But the remaining six; David Fustiu'a, Ash Handley, Derrell Olpherts, Rhyse Martin, Luis Roberts and Leon Ruan have all been named in the 21-man squad.
