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Cornwall Squad for Midlands Clash

April 19, 2024

Cornwall RLFC head coach Mike Abbott has named his 21-man squad for Sunday’s Betfred League 1 clash at home to Midlands Hurricanes.

The Memorial Ground chief has included Josh Rhodes ahead of this round six clash, after his loan move from Championship outfit Batley Bulldogs, was rubber-stamped yesterday (Thursday).

His arrival is tempered by both Harry Boots and Nathan Cullen being ruled out by a head knock and shoulder problem respectively.

After a bruising encounter against Oldham last time out, in which Cornwall pushed the league leaders for long spells, he has been forced to count to cost of the Boundary Park clash this week.

David Weetman is rated at less than 50/50 while Cameron Brown is also highly doubtful.

Skipper Adam Rusling is still working his way back to full fitness after suffering a leg gash against Keighley in round one, but is unlikely to feature against the Hurricanes.

Abbott will also make a late call on Decarlo Trerise (shoulder) and Luke Collins (thigh), while George Mitchell is unavailable.

Chris Bannister missed out against Oldham due to a concussion injury sustained in the defeat to North Wales Crusaders in March, but he is free to play under the Rugby Football League’s return to play protocols.

“The Oldham game really took its toll on the lads and we have been pretty beat up this week,” Abbott told cornwallrlfc.co.uk.

“We’ve fetched Josh Rhodes in from Batley which is a real boost for us in the middle of the park.

“But in other areas, we have some real concerns. I think the game is a week early for Adam Rusling and I don’t expect David Weetman to feature, even though we have named him (in the squad). Weetman left Oldham on crutches and he was still on them on Thursday night.

“Cam Brown dropped out of training this week and so did Luke Collins. It means we will have to do some re-jigging but this is what we have a squad for and I am confident that every player I pick can, and will perform.”

Cornwall: (from) Aaronson, Abbott, Ashton, Bannister, Black, Brown, Collins, Conroy, Dimech, Lloyd, Marvin, Nichol, Punchard, O’Callaghan, Rhodes, Ross, Rusling, Sander, Simpson, Trerise, Weetman