Leeds head to the Qualifiers once again and first up meet Toulouse. Here’s everything you need to know…
SQUAD NEWS
Leeds Rhinos
The Rhinos have made several changes to the side that lost 48-12 to Warrington in Bolton last Sunday in the Challenge Cup semi-final.
There are returns for Stevie Ward, Anthony Mullally, Ashton Golding, Jimmy Keinhorst and Dom Crosby. Matt Parcell is out with a rib injury and Ash Handley is struggling with a shoulder problem he suffered last weekend.
Leeds 19-man squad: Golding, Briscoe, Sutcliffe, Hall, Moon, Myler, Cuthbertson, Singleton, Jones-Buchanan, Ablett, Ward, Dwyer, Mullally, Keinhorst, Ferres, Peteru, Walker, Oledzki, Crosby.
Toulouse Olympique
Toulouse coach Sylvain Houles has made three changes to his 19-man squad from the 72-6 win at Barrow that sealed second spot in the Championship a fortnight ago.
Eddie Pettybourne returns to the team alongside Stanislas Robin and Charles Bouzinac. They replace Sebastien Planas, Justin Sangare and Mourad
Toulouse 19-man squad: Ader, Barthau, Bouzinac, Boyer, Bretherton, Canet, Centrone, Ford, Hepi, Kheirallah, Marcon, Marion, Maurel, Mika, Pettybourne, Puech, Rapira, Robin, Seguier.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
The last time these two sides met was the Challenge Cup semi-final in 2005. Leeds ended up winning 56-18 but were just 22-18 ahead at half-time in Huddersfield.
KEY BATTLE – Richie Myler vs Johnathon Ford
The battle of the half-backs is always key, and if Toulouse want to get anything from their trip to Headingley they will need top performances from William Barthau and particularly Johnathon Ford.
Ford was an integral part of this Toulouse side long before their re-entry to the English leagues in 2016, joining from Sydney Roosters in 2011 and proving his quality this season in the Championship.
He will have the main creative duties during alongside star Mark Kheirallah, and his kicking will have to trump Leeds half-back Richie Myler.
Myler played in France himself last year with Catalans and has come in for some criticism from Rhinos fans, but with more try assists than any other Super League player this season he is capable of having a big impact.
THE IMPORTANT DETAILS
Date: Saturday 11th August
Venue: Emerald Headingley Stadium
Kick-off: 3.15pm
Referee: Gareth Hewer
