Leeds Rhinos Boosted By Miller Return And Ackers Squad Inclusion

By Peter Wanene

Leeds Rhinos have been given a big boost as fullback Lachie Miller was declared fit and will play in their next game; hooker Andy Ackers also comes back into the 21-man squad.

As stated by Brad Arthur in a pre-match press conference on Friday, "He is good to go. That's a credit to the high-performance staff who made that tough decision" regarding Miller's fitness. Miller exited at halftime during the Wakefield win after a calf knock but will now feature against Warrington.

Regarding hooker selection, Arthur said, "Andy has got excellent experience, and he's been out for a while, but Jarrod has been one of our better players." He hinted that Jarrod O'Connor might retain the starting hooker role: "The form of Jarrod helps with the decision, so I'll need to have a reason to make change at the moment, and I don't have a reason."

Miller's return offers relief after Arthur had expressed uncertainty post-Wakefield but acknowledged that proactive substitution was key to rapid recovery. His availability reinforces stability in the Rhinos' backline.

On Ackers, who previously suffered a hamstring tear, his re-inclusion reflects squad depth: "They're all doing a job. It's unfortunate for Ackers that he got injured, but I'm proud of the whole club because we never had the same team for 40 minutes straight at the start of the season". Arthur emphasized squad unity and resilience throughout disruptions.

The combination of Miller's return and Ackers' candidacy strengthens Leeds ahead of a crucial fixture against Warrington. Miller, known for his agility and playmaking, brings attacking flair. Ackers adds experience and tactical flexibility off the bench if selected.

This weekend's team selection will reflect Arthur's balance between maintaining form and rewarding performance. The Rhinos look poised to field a refreshed squad as they aim for another strong result during this pivotal stretch of the Super League season.