CHALLENGE CUP PREVIEW | Leeds Rhinos vs Leigh Centurions
Championship Leigh hunt a Challenge Cup upset against Leeds in Featherstone. Here’s everything you need to know…
TEAM NEWS
Leeds Rhinos
Leeds coach Brian McDermott makes two changes to the squad that lost 22-30 at Catalans Dragons last Saturday, their fifth Super League defeat in six.
Joel Moon and Anthony Mullally both return, taking the places of Brett Delaney and Jack Ormondroyd.
Matt Parcell and Carl Ablett both missed the game in France having been named in the original squad, but both are in line for a return to action in the Cup.
Leeds 19-man squad: Golding, Briscoe, Hall, Moon, Myler, Cuthbertson, Parcell, Ablett, Ward, Dwyer, Mullally, Keinhorst, Ferres, Handley, Walker, Lilley, Smith, Oledzki, Walters.
Leigh Centurions
Leigh coach Kieron Purtill has made two changes to the squad that were defeated 28-26 by Toronto Wolfpack at the Summer Bash.
Daniel Mortimer and Ryan Bailey drop out of the squad, with winger Rhys Evans and forward Nick Gregson in line for returns.
That narrow defeat in Blackpool was a first defeat for Purtill in his 13th game in charge, and he has already seen off one Super League side with the 22-10 win over Salford in the previous round.
Leigh 19-man squad: Hall, Dawson-Jones, Crooks, Mata’utia, Evans, Reynolds, Hutchinson, Acton, Lerroyer, Thompson, Hansen, Hood, Thompson, Mason, Owens, Richards, Gregson, Higham, Baldwinson.
HEAD TO HEAD
This draw brought back memories of the Challenge Cup final in 1971, when Leigh upset the odds to beat Leeds in one of the competition’s most famous finals.
Their most recent Challenge Cup meeting came at this stage in 2014, when Leeds won 25-12 at Headingley. The Rhinos also won both of the games between these two sides in Super League last season.
KEY BATTLE – Micky Higham vs Matt Parcell
Micky Higham’s decision to come out of retirement earlier this season provided a huge boost to Leigh, and he has played a huge role in their upturn in fortunes.
Meanwhile, Leeds are anything but in form, and they need at hooker the Matt Parcell that was one of their star players last year if they are to recover their 2018 season and win any silverware.
THE KEY DETAILS
Date: Friday 1st June
Venue: LD Nutrition Stadium
Kick-off: 7:35pm
Referee: Chris Kendall
WHO WILL WIN?
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