Injury concerns ensure tough week for Leeds

Watkins twisted his knee and Ablett twisted an ankle during the Rhinos’ 32-22 defeat by Harlequins at the Twickenham Stoop on Saturday. Leeds say both players will be monitored and assessed over the next 48 hours.

Coach Brian McDermott opted to rest forwards Jamie Jones-Buchanan, Ryan Bailey and Jamie Peacock with the clash against Wigan in mind but insisted his side did not have their minds elsewhere as they slid to defeat in the first of their capital double-header.

Luke Dorn’s hat-trick helped Harlequins to victory and made it a miserable return to London for the former Quins boss.

The Rhinos will have to improve hugely on Saturday’s showing which saw Harlequins, who had won just once in 19 matches, complete a famous double.

Dorn took his try tally to 15 for the season as he ran amok with Jamie O’Callaghan and ex-Leeds flyer Mark Calderwood also getting in on the act – while Luke Gale also helped himself to 12 points with the boot.

Second-half tries from Ryan Hall, Danny McGuire, Rob Burrow and Jay Pitts gave the scoreline a flattering look as the Rhinos, who had captain Kevin Sinfield sent to the sin-bin, saw their five-game winning run come to an abrupt end.

“Wembley was not a distraction – far from it. We’ve been using it as part of our preparation,” said McDermott, who spent four years in charge at the Stoop. “The last thing we would want to do is go into our most important game of the year with a poor performance.

“I wanted us to put in a solid showing so something would be in place for Wembley, so this is a very disappointing performance and result. Credit to Harlequins. They came out the blocks flying and I think it was this, rather than us being flat.

“The final moments of the game we found our rhythm, but this was more to do with Quins dropping off by then. Carl Ablett was caught in a tackle, which could have had a serious injury to his knee – as was Ali Lauitiiti.”

Harlequins: Dorn, Calderwood, O’Callaghan, Clubb, Melling, Sarginson, Gale, Ward, Randall, Temata, Purdham, Golden, Bailey. Substitutes: Ambler, Wilkes, Burnett, Bolger.

Leeds: Webb, Jones-Bishop, Watkins, Ablett, Hall, Sinfield, McGuire, Leuluai, Buderus, Kirke, Hauraki, Delaney, Clarkson. Substitutes: Smith, Burrow, Lauitiiti, Pitts.

Referee: R Hicks (Oldham).