Kevin Sinfield return can bring about a response from wounded Rhinos

Hull KR v Salford
3pm Sunday
Castleford v Leeds
3.30pm Sunday

After seven straight Betfred Super League defeats, champions Leeds axed the club’s most successful coach Brian McDermott on Monday.

The Rhinos moved quickly to plug the game left by McDermott, announcing on Friday that former captain Kevin Sinfield was returning to Headingley to become the club’s first director of rugby with James Lowes appointed as first-team coach.

Sinfield won every trophy on offer as a Rhinos player but with four games left of the regular season, avoiding dropping into the Qualifiers and a potential relegation battle is Sinfield’s first challenge in charge.

That stint begins against local rivals Castleford, who can move into third place with victory.

An injury crisis has undoubtedly played a huge part in Leeds’s troubles this season but, an abject performance at Wigan last time out aside, they have been competitive in defeat with six of their 11 losses coming by less than a converted score, and three by a single point.

Stand-in skipper Stevie Ward returns to bolster Sinfield’s hand in his first game in charge meaning ten of their first-choice 13 are available.

Opponents Cas are smarting after a 44-16 defeat at Catalans and while they are worthy favourites on what we have seen this season, Leeds will be determined to put in decent performance after a tumultuous week.

Recommendation
Leeds +10
2pts 10-11 Sky Bet

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