{"id":966245,"date":"2026-05-17T08:28:35","date_gmt":"2026-05-17T08:28:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/966245\/"},"modified":"2026-05-17T08:28:35","modified_gmt":"2026-05-17T08:28:35","slug":"leigh-leopards-dealt-major-blow-as-star-back-suffers-warm-up-injury","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/966245\/","title":{"rendered":"Leigh Leopards dealt major blow as star back suffers warm-up injury"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Leigh Leopards have been handed a major blow ahead of the game against Hull KR with one of their key players suffering an injury in the warm-up.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Centre Tesi Niu has been ruled out of the match after suffering an injury in the warm-up with Sky Sports\u2019 Jenna Brooks reporting a hamstring injury sustained by Niu just minutes before Leigh kicked off against Hull KR.<\/p>\n

Niu was partnering fellow centre Umyla Hanley for only the second time this season but the powerful back didn\u2019t come through the warm-up.<\/p>\n

He has been replaced by winger AJ Towse with Gareth O\u2019Brien remaining as the Leopards\u2019 18th man, having dropped out of the squad to accommodate the return of full-back David Armstrong.<\/p>\n

Armstrong starts his first game for the Leopards since suffering the ACL injury that ended his 2025 campaign and there\u2019s another full-back boost for Leigh as Bailey Hodgson returns via the bench as he recovers from his knee injury.<\/p>\n

As part of the switch, Innes Senior has moved in from the wing to play centre with Niu\u2019s replacement Towse occupying his natural position on the wing.<\/p>\n

Hull KR\u2019s team news focused around the fact that Arthur Mourgue was recalled<\/a> with the French full-back featuring for the first time since the World Club Challenge when he tore his pec.<\/p>\n

Leigh Leopards XIII:<\/strong> David Armstrong; AJ Towse, Innes Senior, Umyla Hanley, Josh Charnley; Adam Cook, Lachlan Lam, Joe Ofahengaue, Edwin Ipape, Owen Trout; Frankie Halton, Jacob Alick-Wiencke; Isaac Liu<\/p>\n

Interchanges: <\/strong>Louis Brogan, Bailey Hodgson, Liam Horne, Jack Hughes<\/p>\n

Hull KR starting XIII:\u00a0<\/strong>Arthur Mourgue; Tom Davies, Peta Hiku, Oliver Gildart, Joe Burgess; Mikey Lewis, Tyrone May; Sauaso Sue, Karl Lawton, Tom Amone; Dean Hadley, Rhyse Martin; Elliot Minchella<\/p>\n

Interchanges: <\/strong>Jez Litten, Sam Luckley, Jai Whitbread, Jack Broadbent<\/p>\n

Challenge Cup reaction, incoming head coach and major signing \u2013 Click here to watch the latest episode of the Serious About Rugby League Show<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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