Rhinos v Reds: Teams
Salford centre Ashley Gibson has received a surprise recall for the injury-hit Reds' trip to Leeds on Friday night.
Last Updated: 30/08/12 1:20pm
Salford centre Ashley Gibson has received an unexpected recall for the injury-hit Reds' trip to Leeds on Friday night.
Gibson was widely reported to have been ruled out for the rest of the season after dislocating his elbow during the Reds 30-20 defeat by Huddersfield on August 10.
But the 25-year-old Leeds-born centre was a surprise inclusion on coach Phil Vievers' list when he announced his 19-man squad on Thursday.
A return for one of his frontline backs will be a significant boost for Veivers' struggling side, who have lost their last five matches.
Gibson's inclusion is the only change to the 19 men named for the Reds' 38-6 thrashing by Wigan ten days ago, with young scrum-half Theo Fages dropped ahead of the Super League clash at Headingley.
Determination
Brian McDermott, meanwhile, has named all 17 players from the Rhinos' Challenge Cup final defeat for Friday's clash with Salford.
The Leeds coach has added Chris Clarkson and Weller Hauraki to the squad that was beaten 35-18 by Warrington at Wembley last weekend.
Wolves added to the heartbreak of their 2010 final victory over the Rhinos by making Leeds suffer the ignominy of becoming the first team ever to lose three Challenge Cup finals in a row.
But, announcing his 19 man squad on Thursday, McDermott said that his men were united in their determination to bounce back from the defeat, starting on Friday when they play host to the Reds.
"Over the last few days I have spoken in depth to every single player in our squad," he said. "Those who played at Wembley and otherwise, and, to a man, everyone is ready for the challenge ahead starting on Friday.
"All were desperate to be involved again on Friday against Salford despite a testing past 14 days both physically and mentally and that bodes well for what we can do over the next few weeks."
Leeds Rhinos: Jones-Bishop, Watkins, Hardaker, Hall, Burrow, Leuluai, Peacock, Jones-Buchanan, Ablett, Sinfield (c), Delaney, Bailey, Kirke, Clarkson, Hauraki, Griffin, Ward, Lunt, Keinhorst.
Salford City Reds: Patten, Broughton, Gleeson, Gibson, Williams, Holdsworth, Owen, Walne, Howarth, Boyle, Ashurst, Anderson, Wild, Nero, Veivers, James, Sidlow, Neal, Adamson
