Hull FC v Leeds Rhinos: Super League preview
Last Updated: 05/03/15 10:08pm
Hull FC welcome back captain Gareth Ellis for Thursday’s Super League meeting with the unbeaten Leeds Rhinos at the KC Stadium.
Ellis has recovered from the rib cartilage injury that ruled him out of Hull’s defeats to Warrington and Salford, and is one of three changes to Lee Radford’s 19-man squad.
Ellis replaces youngster Dean Hadley, with fellow forward Feka Paleaaesina returning after spending two weeks on dual registration with Doncaster.
Australian three-quarter Steve Michael is included just four days after he was implicated in a cocaine scandal, with Black and Whites owner Adam Pearson saying the club are dealing with the matter in house, while Jamie Shaul is also recalled after missing the defeat at Salford through injury.
Richard Whiting is sidelined after breaking his hand at the AJ Bell Stadium, while James Cunningham suffered a head injury against the Red Devils and also drops out.
Leeds are on a three-game winning streak and head coach Brian McDermott has named an unchanged squad.
Tom Briscoe, who has scored three tries in as many games, returns to his former club while Rob Burrow could be included in the match-day 17 having missed out on the last two matches.
Hull FC: 1 Jamie Shaul, 2 Tom Lineham, 3 Setaimata Sa, 4 Kirk Yeaman, 5 Fetuli Talanoa, 6 Leon Pryce, 7 Mark Sneyd, 8 Mickey Paea, 9 Danny Houghton, 10 Liam Watts, 11 Gareth Ellis (c), 12 Mark Minichiello, 13 Joe Westerman, 14 Iafeta Paleaaesina, 15 Chris Green, 16 Jordan Thompson, 19 Steve Michaels, 22 Josh Bowden, 32 Jordan Rankin.
Leeds Rhinos: 1 Zak Hardaker, 2 Tom Briscoe, 3 Kallum Watkins, 4 Joel Moon, 5 Ryan Hall, 6 Danny McGuire, 7 Rob Burrow, 8 Kylie Leuluai, 9 Paul Aiton, 10 Jamie Peacock, 11 Jamie Jones-Buchanan, 12 Carl Ablett, 13 Kevin Sinfield (c), 14 Stevie Ward, 16 Mitch Achurch, 17 Adam Cuthbertson, 18 Liam Sutcliffe, 19 Brad Singleton, 21 Josh Walters.
Watch Hull FC v Leeds Rhinos on Sky Sports 3 on Thursday from 7.30pm