Blake Austin is set for a spell on the sidelines after missing Leeds Rhinos' clash with Wigan Warriors. The halfback sustained a calf injury in training on Thursday which ultimately saw him stood down for the Challenge Cup defeat.
However, his absence will last longer than just one week. Rohan Smith confirmed the injury comes with a two to four-week recovery, leaving the Rhinos without him for next week's game against St Helens and potentially beyond. Leeds are due to play Castleford Tigers and Wakefield Trinity within that four-week timeframe.
"Austo trained fully on Thursday and had a scan yesterday after feeling a bit ginger and he wasn't right," Smith said. "We trained that way yesterday but we weren't quite sure until last night."
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He added: "It's probably one of those two to four-week type of things."
Meanwhile, Ash Handley was another absentee, which was a consequence of illness. "Ash Handley was ill, we gave him as long as possible but he wasn't in any state to compete in a game like that. That was a very late withdrawal that one."
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