Leeds look to make successive victories for the first time this season.

Embed from Getty Images

Leeds Rhinos will face their fourth consecutive Yorkshire derby this weekend when they welcome Hull FC to Emerald Headingley Stadium in Round 7.

Still the most successful Super League side historically with eight Grand Final wins, the Rhinos have struggled so far this campaign, with just two wins from their opening six fixtures. Both wins coming against the currently pointless Wakefield Trinity.

Richard Agar’s Rhinos claimed the two points last time out with a 15-13 victory against Wakefield, his side secured the win via a penalty conversion from the boot of Rhyse Martin in golden point. That win leaves Leeds ninth in the Super League table at the time of writing ahead of the first reunion with their fans in over 430 days on Sunday.

Three places above the Rhinos in sixth are Brett Hodgson’s Hull FC, who have endured a mixed start to their league campaign. Three wins and a draw from their opening six games have left the Black and Whites with seven points from a possible 14, but they did lose out 27-10 at home to Catalans Dragons on Monday in what was their biggest defeat of the season to date.

Still, in the Challenge Cup and with a Semi-final clash against Saints to come, the Black and Whites may well be targeting silverware this season away from league competition.

Squads

The Rhinos are able to welcome four members back for the fixture with Hull FC. James Donaldson and Bodene Thompson have both been named in Agar’s squad having recovered from injuries that kept them out of last week’s victory over Wakefield. Meanwhile, Zane Tetevano and experienced full-back Richie Myler are both available following completion of a four and two-game suspension respectively.

Hooker Kruise Leeming looks set to make his 150^th career appearance but Tom Holroyd, Callum McLelland and Cameron Smith are all still a few weeks away from being match fit.

Meanwhile, in the opposition camp, Ben McNamara is the only change to Hodgson’s 21-man squad as he comes in to replace Miteli Vulikijapani- who yesterday went out on loan to Bradford Bulls in the Championship.

Prop Josh Bowden has narrowly missed out on the squad with an elbow injury, though his manager has said he may well be in contention sooner rather than later. Joining him on the sidelines will be Scott Taylor (foot), Masi Matongo (knee) and Jamie Shaul (ACL). All three of those remain absent with long-term injuries.

Head-to–Head

As previously mentioned, Leeds ruled the roost in Super League for a number of years, and undoubtedly had the advantage over Hull FC however more recently, it is this weekend’s visitors who hold the bragging rights between the two Yorkshire outfits.

Hodgson’s men will take confidence from the fact that the last two Super League seasons have seen them come away from Emerald Headingley Stadium with a victory including a 30-4 demolition in 2020.

Follow us on Twitter @ProstInt

[column size=”1/2″][blog type=”timeline” posts=”10″ cats=”607″ heading=”Rugby” heading_type=”timeline” /] [/column]

[column size=”1/2″][blog type=”timeline” posts=”10″ cats=”105″ heading=”Other sports” heading_type=”timeline” /] [/column]