Team Talk: Leeds Rhinos

Warrington need to return to winning ways on Tuesday against a much-changed Leeds Rhinos team at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.

Wire are still without Tom Lineham, who is nearing the end of his eight-match ban, while Steve Price has opted to rest stand-off Blake Austin and props Mike Cooper and Joe Philbin. Jake Mamo, who went off injured in the defeat to Wigan, isn't included in the 21-man-squad, and there is no place for Ben Murdoch-Masila either. However, Leeds clearly have one, or maybe two, eyes on the Challenge Cup Final at the weekend, naming a very youthful squad for this one, with only three players with shirt numbers of less than 20 involved. Here is my Wire team for the game...

Full-Back - 26 Matty Ashton
With no Blake Austin, it seems likely that Stefan Ratchford will move into the halves, allowing Ashton to return to the starting fold at full-back.

Winger - 29 Josh Thewlis
Thewlis was exceptional in the young Wire side's loss to Salford last month, and though he played at full-back there, has played on the wing before. Lineham and Mamo being unavailable means that he could get a go there.

Centre - 4 Toby King
I've enjoyed a lot of what King has done this season and most of his performance on Friday was excellent, but he needs to cut out the occasional jumping off the line.

Centre - 3 Anthony Gelling
Gelling is quite an inconsistent player. He is very dangerous in front of the line but looks liable defensively. Shouldn't be any problem against such a young Leeds side though.

Winger - 5 Josh Charnley
I've commented a few times on how bored Charnley must be at times with Wire never getting the ball out wide to him. Against such a youthful team, this is a chance to give him some walk-ins.

Stand-Off - 1 Stefan Ratchford
There could be shouts for Declan Patton to come into the halves, but I would move Ratchford to 6, one of the few positions he hasn't played in this season. It would be nice to think that Austin may respond to the competition.

Scrum-Half - 7 Gareth Widdop
Widdop received a lot of stick for Friday night but I sympathise with him - no-one is running the lines he wants them to, and he is still working hard defensively. Would be good if he could get his confidence up with a few tries or assists here.

Prop - 8 Chris Hill
Wire's best player in the last two matches has been captain Chris Hill, who has led the forward pack brilliantly. With no Mike Cooper, there will be extra emphasis on him.

Hooker - 9 Daryl Clark
Teams have really looked to stifle Daryl Clark this year but there are signs that he is starting to get back to his wonderful best. Again, a chance for him to run riot here.

Prop - 22 Luis Johnson
No Cooper or Philbin means there is plenty of doubt over the second prop position, but I've gone with Luis Johnson, a player who I really rate. 

Second Row - 11 Ben Currie
After starting the season like a house on fire, Currie has had a quiet few weeks. He needs to get back on track because he offers so much when he's playing well.

Second Row - 12 Jack Hughes
I have been concerned that Hughes doesn't really look the same player since the injury which kept him out of the start of 2020. He needs as many games as possible to rediscover his confidence and physicality.

Loose Forward - 14 Jason Clark
Jason Clark's performances have been quite anonymous lately, although I expect him to keep his place at 13 here.

Interchange - 27 Ellis Robson
Robson has impressed every time he's played for Wire this season, so I'd be interested to see how he goes against fellow youngsters.

Interchange - 19 Matt Davis
The ever-busy Matt Davis will be the most experienced man on the bench and can expect plenty of minutes.

Interchange - 20 Danny Walker
Walker missed out last time but will surely be involved here, ideally bringing plenty of agility and movement from the bench.

Interchange - 33 Eribe Doro
A player who really impressed me in the Salford loss was Doro, who got away some great offloads. I hope he's rewarded with a place on the bench here.

This means there is no place in my team for Keanan Brand, purely because I don't see the point in having a centre on the bench, while Sitaleki Akauola, who might be considered by many to start this match, has not made my team because he has no future at the club and has shown very little this season. Ellis Longstaff was one I considered and I would have no issue with him making the bench, and then there is Declan Patton, who there is a case for to start in the halves, or even on the bench as an interchange hooker, which I wouldn't mind. 

There is absolutely no excuse here. This is a crucially important game to get in the playoffs after two consecutive defeats in the league, against a team that lie just above Wire at the moment. Leeds are essentially naming their reserves, and while Price's team are missing a couple, it should still be ample enough to comfortably beat a reserves team. It would be nice to think that Wire can show some attacking intent and knowhow near the line in this one. The lack of attacking structure has been evident in recent weeks but after spending some time looking through it, nearly all of our tries in 2020 have come in a few set ways: Austin solo efforts, barge-overs, long-range breaks from our own half or kicks to the corner. Very, very rarely have we had the guile or invention to work the ball wide and create an overload of numbers in the corner, giving Lineham or Charnley a walk-in try on the wing. Is this something we might see here?

Predictions
Hull KR to beat Salford by 6-11
Hull FC to beat Huddersfield by 6-11
Warrington to beat Leeds by 23-29
Catalans to beat Wigan by 1-5
St Helens to beat Wakefield by 23-29

@ALooseWire