Leeds will overcome crisis - Back

Rawlinson is in his 11th season at Leeds Carnegie

Leeds Carnegie head coach Neil Back says his side can cope with their hooker injury crisis.

Rob Rawlinson is out for another month with a neck injury, Phil Nilsen took a knock in the LV= Cup win over Leicester and Scott Freer is out for the season.

But Back told BBC Radio Leeds they do have enough cover with Vili Ma'asi and George Warner available.

"The conveyor belt is there but I hope that Rob Rawlinson can pull through and then I will sleep easier," he said.

Back said the prognosis on Rawlinson, who saw a specialist about his neck injury on Friday, is promising.

"I'm hopeful he will be back to full training in two to three weeks with a view to playing in four to five weeks," he said.

"We wanted to avoid an operation at all costs. Hopefully it will settle down through the conservative management we have put him through.

"Just having a guy of his experience around is good for the squad."