Ricky Leutele suffers suspected broken hand in Huddersfield defeat

Huddersfield have been dealt an injury blow as Ricky Leutele suffered a suspected broken hand in his first game for the club.

Former Toronto centre Leutele, one of six players on debut for the Giants, scored his first Super League try in Huddersfield’s 22-10 defeat to Hull but finished the game with a suspected broken hand.

REPORT: Hull 22-10 Huddersfield: Brett Hodgson starts Hull tenure in winning fashion

Huddersfield coach Watson says that will pave the way for Jake Wardle to face Catalans Dragons next week as he continues to mould his new-look team.

“There were certain things to be positive about and certain things that we need a lot more work in which you can only get when you play more games,” Watson added.

“The first few weeks of the season is all about bedding in and getting the systems and the belief in what we do will work.”

Huddersfield were without star half-back Aidan Sezer for the game but Watson refused to use it as an excuse for defeat in his first game in charge.

“Aidan had a little tweak on Tuesday,” Watson said. “It’s the first game of the season and it wasn’t worth risking him.

“If we put him out there, the risk is then that he misses six to eight weeks, whereas if you keep him out this week, he is probably right going forward for the rest of the season.

“You don’t win anything in game one.

“We made too many simple little errors, it was not down to Aidan not being there. The players were good enough to win that game without Aidan.

“We didn’t manage the conditions well in the first half and in the second half our ball control was really disappointing.”

Subscribe to The Final Hooter on Apple Podcasts and get involved with the free-to-play Fantasy Rugby League 2021.

Rugby League Nostalgia is here! Get involved with Love Rugby League’s new group on Facebook to share all your rugby league nostalgia and celebrate the rich heritage of our sport.