Leeds Rhinos boss Richard Agar reluctant to reveal Challenge Cup squad to face St Helens

LEEDS RHINOS boss Richard Agar will keep his St Helens rival Kristian Woolf guessing ahead of Saturday’s huge Betfred Challenge Cup tie.
By Peter Smith
Published 7th Apr 2021, 06:00 BST
Leeds Rhinos head coach Richard Agar, centre, with assistants, former St Helens star Sean Long, and Jamie Jones-Buchanan. Picture: Bruce Rollinson/JPIMedia.Leeds Rhinos head coach Richard Agar, centre, with assistants, former St Helens star Sean Long, and Jamie Jones-Buchanan. Picture: Bruce Rollinson/JPIMedia.
Leeds Rhinos head coach Richard Agar, centre, with assistants, former St Helens star Sean Long, and Jamie Jones-Buchanan. Picture: Bruce Rollinson/JPIMedia.

Agar is refusing to reveal if dual-code international Kyle Eastmond will finally make his Rhinos debut, away to the club he played for before switching to rugby union a decade ago.

Eastmond joined Rhinos more than a month ago, but was deemed “not ready” for their pre-season game or either of Leeds’ opening Betfred Super League fixtures.

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Agar insisted he would have “no problems” putting Eastmond into his side for Saturday’s third-round tie but, speaking at an online press conference which also featured Saints coach Woolf, he stressed: “We’ll see how we get through this week.”

St Helens head coach Kristian Woolf. Picture: Richard Sellers/PA Wire.St Helens head coach Kristian Woolf. Picture: Richard Sellers/PA Wire.
St Helens head coach Kristian Woolf. Picture: Richard Sellers/PA Wire.

Agar said: “I am not going to give Kristian too many nudges and winks as to our line-up - I’ll let him work his way through some permutations.

“We had a fairly hectic game last weekend and we’ve got one or two question marks on ins and outs.

“We’ll work our way through the week and make a call later on, towards the weekend.”

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Rhinos were without nine players, including five first-choice backs, for last Friday’s defeat by Castleford Tigers.

Former St Helens and Rugby Union star Kyle Eastmond might just debut for Leeds Rhinos against his former Rugby Leaue club. Picture: Phil Daly/Leeds Rhinos/SWPix.com.Former St Helens and Rugby Union star Kyle Eastmond might just debut for Leeds Rhinos against his former Rugby Leaue club. Picture: Phil Daly/Leeds Rhinos/SWPix.com.
Former St Helens and Rugby Union star Kyle Eastmond might just debut for Leeds Rhinos against his former Rugby Leaue club. Picture: Phil Daly/Leeds Rhinos/SWPix.com.

Agar will name a 21-man squad tomorrow, but confirmed nobody - other than possibly Eastmond - is expected back this week.

“They are probably a week or so away,” he said.

“I think it’s more likely the Wigan or Hull KR games are when we start to get quite a number of guys back.”

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Related topics:Richard AgarKristian WoolfKyle EastmondLeeds RhinosSt Helens

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