Huddersfield Giants will be without suspended back row Sam Hewitt for Friday’s Super League early-season basement battle at Castleford Tigers.
Hewitt has been given a one-match suspension after being charged with a late contact in the narrow defeat by Wakefield Trinity on Sunday.
His absence is another blow to the Giants, who are already without six regular players due to injury.
Centre Liam Sutcliffe is out for 12 weeks, back row Joe Greenwood and loose forward Harry Rushton are sidelined for nine to 10 weeks, while wing Adam Swift, full-back Niall Evalds and half-back Adam Clune will each miss around five weeks.
“It has been a bit of a jinx really,” Huddersfield head coach Luke Robinson told BBC Radio Leeds.
“I made Cluney captain, he got injured. Then I made Swift captain the week after, he got injured. And then I made Rushton the captain the week after and he got injured.
“I was chuffed Tui (Lolohea) escaped that jinx against Wakefield.
“We are missing some key players.
“Before the end of pre-season we were in a really good spot but obviously the last couple of weeks haven’t been great for us. It is what it is – there’s not much we can do about it.”
Huddersfield and Castleford have both lost their opening two Super League fixtures.
