Here is all the essential information about the big game.
Attachment: Leeds Rhinos versus Salford Red Devils
Competition: Betfred Super League Round 15.
Register to our daily newsletter
The i-newsletter cut through the noise
Richie Muyler scores for Rhinos in Salford last month. Image by Steve Riding.
Tickets: The stadium will be fully open with no capacity restrictions.
Pre-game entertainment: The return of “Opera Man” John Innes.
Salford coach: Richard Marshall was named to succeed Ian Watson last December. The 45-year-old played as a forward for clubs like Halifax, Huddersfield Giants, London Broncos and Leigh Centurions. He impressed during a five-year stint as the Halifax team principal and was assistant coach at St. Helens when they won the 2019 and 2019 Super League Grand Finals. He took over this role from Sean Long, who is now on the Rhinos backroom team.
Salford Star Man: French full-back Morgan Escare had a good game when the teams faced each other last month and scored one of Salford’s two tries. He has pace and skill and will test the Leeds defense.
Key battle: Salford’s Lee Mossop’s was sent off for knocking out Konrad Hurrell in one fell swoop in the stormy session four weeks ago. He is now available after a two game suspension which will make matters interesting when he and central Leeds come within range this time around.
Salford Form: Salford’s last loss was a 38-12 home loss to Rhinos three weeks ago. After being laid off for Covid, they returned with a 70:18 win at Castleford Tigers and defeated Wakefield Trinity 24:14 last weekend. They are ninth in the table with four wins from 13 games.
Previous meeting: June 27, 2021. Super League Round 11. Salford 12 (Tries Atkins, Escare. Tore Atkin, Patton), Rhinos 38 (Tries Myler 2, Broadbent 2, T Briscoe, Gale, Leeming. Tore Martin 5). Referee: Robert Hicks.
The last five results (newest first): Rhinos LLWWW; Salford WWLWL
Super League head to head: Salford won five, Leeds won 44.Salford’s highest score and biggest lead was 38-22 at home in 2018; Leeds’ highest score and largest margin in 2015 was 70-6 at home.
Milestones: Rhinos’ Luke Gale needs an appearance to reach 250 in the Super League. Salford’s Ryan Lannon needs an appearance for 100 for his career and teammate Rhys Willliams’ next Super League game will be his 100th. Krisnan Inu is 15 points short of 500 in the Super League.
Connections: Salford half-back Tui Lolohea and prop master Jack Ormondroyd are former Leeds players. Richie Myler from Rhinos had a spell in Salford.
Rhinos Injuries: Jack Walker (foot), Rob Lui (thigh), Zane Tetevano (Achilles / Covid), Alex Walker (knee), Jack Broadbednt (ankle)
Not available due to Covid: Morgan Gannon.
Exposed: Bodene Thompson (second game of three).
News from the Rhinos team: Ash Handley, Mikolaj Oledzki, Rhyse Martin and King Vuniyayawa are all included in Leeds’ top 21, along with the players who lost at the Catalans Dragons last week. Handley and Oledzki – who are also struggling with a foot injury – both went into isolation after a family member tested positive for coronavirus. Martin is available after being suspended from a game and Vuniyayawa was unable to travel to France due to a visa problem.
News from the Salford team: Salford will recall captain Lee Mossop and fellow striker Jack Wells. Dan Sarginson is also back in the running, along with Joe Burgess and Ata Hingano. Josh Johnson is out of the team that beat Wakefield Trinity a week ago 24-14.
Leeds rhinos: by T. Briscoe, Newman, Hurrell, Handley, Gale, Oledzki, Leeming, Prior, Mellor, Martin, Dwyer, L. Sutcliffe, Myler, Smith, Holroyd, Vuniyayawa, Walters, McLelland, L. Briscoe, Donaldson, O’Connor .
Salford Red Devils: by Escare, Sio, Inu, Burgess, Lolohea, Mossop, Ackers, Ikahihifo, Lannon, Pauli, Roberts, Burke, Atkin, Livett, Williams, Sarginson, Costello, Ormondroyd, Wells, Luckley, Hingano.
Referee: Ben Thaler (Wakefield).
Last game: Catalans Dragons 27 Leeds Rhinos 18, Salford Red Devils 24 Wakefield Trinity 14 (both July 16).
Next game: Hull against Leeds rhinos; Salford Red Devils v Wakefield Trinity (both Thursday, July 1st, 7.45pm, Super League Round 12).
Support the YEP and become a subscriber today. Enjoy unlimited access to local news and the latest from Leeds United. With a digital subscription you will see fewer ads, enjoy faster loading times and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Click here to subscribe.