SL Preview: Wakefield v Leeds

New signing Stuart Howarth goes straight into Wakefield interim coach Stu Dickens’s squad for this derby clash with Leeds.

Front rower Scott Anderson is missing, however. Craig Hall and Ben Cavanagh are included.

Brian McDermott has called up England Academy player Jordan Lilley into the Rhinos’ squad, but Joel Moon, Zak Hardaker, Tom Briscoe, Kylie Leuluai, Brett Delaney, Mitch Achurch and Ashton Golding all miss out.

Jamie Jones-Buchanan is included, but will need a late fitness test on an injured hamstring.

Prediction: It is hard to see beyond a convincing Leeds win, by at last 18 points.

Wakefield (19-man squad): Annakin, Arundel, Godinet, Hall, Howardth, Johnstone, Kavanagh, Kirmond, McShane, Miller, Molloy, Owen, Riley, Ryan, Scruton, Simon, D. Smith, T.Smith, Washbrook

Leeds (19-man squad): Watkins, Hall, McGuire, Burrow, Aiton, Peacock, Jones-Buchanan, Ablett, Sinfield, Ward, Cuthbertson, Sutcliffe, Singleton, Keinhorst, Walters, Yates, Mulhern, Handley, Lilley

Stats:

Leeds winger Ryan Hall has scored tries in the Rhinos’ last four meetings with Wakefield (2-1-1-1).

Danny McGuire needs one try to reach 250 for Leeds. McGuire’s total of 249 touchdowns has been reached in 363 games for the Rhinos since 2001.

Danny Washbrook needs one appearance to reach 100 for Wakefield. Washbrook made his Wildcats debut in a 32-14 win at Widnes on 3 February, 2012.

Super League Summary:

Wakefield won six
Leeds won 33 (includes win in 2012 play-offs)
Wakefield highest score: 44-28 (A, 2005) (Widest margin: 38-18, H, 2012)
Leeds highest score: 70-6 (A, 2005) (also widest margin)

2015 Meeting:

Leeds 48, Wakefield 22 (SLR9, 6/4/15)