Friday 17th March 8.00pm Headingley



The Rhinos are struggling in the front row after Jamie Peacock was pulled out of the squad with a knee injury.

That will be a big blow to us and my original prediction of a 14 point victory for the Rhinos has been re-considered.
Gareth Ellis is back in the starting 13 after missing the last few matches and I expect Chris Feather to directly replace Peacock as JJB has not made the 17 due to injury, the bench will consist entirely of forwards as coach Smith seeks to cover Peacock's work rate loss.


Salford have lost John Wilshere to a groin injury but other than that they will have the same team that hammered Wakey last week, we will have to pay particular attention to Dunneman, Robinson and Alker.




The bookies are giving Salford a 20 point start which I think is very generous and I will be surprised if we beat them by that many but I still take Leeds to win by 6-10 points.

After a good first 15 minutes in which The Rhinos could have had a couple of tries when well placed. The Warriors started to get back into the game and got the first try on 20 minutes after a high ball to our left corner was flicked back inside despite the presence of several Leeds players and Tomkins went over - 4-0, no conversion.

We were unlucky to be behind and at this point I was starting to see what a lot of opposing fans have been telling us for 2 years - Keith Senior has had his best days. In the first 20 minutes his contribution to the game had been one dropped pass when all he had to do was collect and fall over the line; an inside pass to nobody when it was not necessary; giving Wigan possession in a good position and a poor effort to get off the ground to collect the bomb from which Wigan had just scored, I put it down to early season rustiness but will be expecting better next week.
Other than Senior we had done little wrong and after 30 minutes I though Ali had got us back into the game but the score was ruled out for a double movement. Unbelievably within 3 minutes of that we were 16-0 down with Wigan scoring 2 tries in 2 minutes through Godwin & Ashton both converted.


HT: 16-0


We came out in the second half looking like we still believed we were in with a shout and after seeing plenty of ball we finally went over on 50 with Shane Millard diving over from close in. 2 minutes later and Danny McGuire went over.

With both tries converted it was 16-12 to Wigan and it was now anybody's game.
Wigan made a couple of clean breaks from distance but we were able to scramble and clear the danger - other than that Wigan caused us few problems. There was no further scoring until 72 when Kevin Sinfield returned to the field and forced his way over again from close range, he converted and we were in front for the first time 16-18 and we deserved it. With a couple minutes to go Jamie Peacock offloaded brilliantly to McGuire who drew the last defender and released to Rob Burrow who went over under the posts, Sinfield converted and the comeback was complete 16-24 and we still looked strong at the end.


FT 16-24


My Opinion: Lee Smith never looked troubled by the threat of Calderwood but is struggling with an ankle injury for next week and I thought Chev Walker had a decent game but the big test will come next week at KR.

Kick off 3.00pm Sunday 12th Feb Headingley


Here we go!!


Hull have already got their season off to a flyer and no doubt by the time we kick off, Wigan and Saints will have too.
It should be close to a reduced capacity Full House of 16,600 to see Jamie Peacock pull on the Leeds shirt competitively for the first time, together with other new boys Shane Millard and Scott Donald, not surprisingly Nathan McAvoy does not make the 20 - still not worked that one out, (The signing I mean!)

We should be at full strength with the exception of other new boy Mark O’Neill with the starting 13 picking themselves:
Mathers, Donald, Walker, Senior, Smith, McGuire, Burrow, Bailey, Diskin, Peacock, Lauitiiti, Ellis, Sinfield,

with Millard, Poching, Jones-Buchanan, Scruton probably making up the 17.
Huddersfield’s half back pairing of Thorman and Paul should provide the biggest danger but if McGuire is back to his best as all reports suggest I expect the Rhinos to run out 12 point plus winners.

Get there early to support the Rhinos senior academy kick off their season against their Huddersfield counterparts kick off 12.45pm.


We are Leeds!!!