Leeds Rhinos

[Druzik]

All news related to Leeds here.

[Druzik]

RHINOS SEEK FRENCH INFLUENCE

Super League champions Leeds are planning to fill the remaining place in their squad for 2009 with a French player.

The Rhinos have one space available in their 25-man squad and will use it to try to help the development of the game in France.

Last season France forward Eric Anselme made four first-team appearances on loan from Albi but has now signed for Co-operative Championship side Toulouse.

Chief executive Gary Hetherington, who travelled to France to watch the French Cup final last season, said: "Over the past few years we have built some very good relations with French clubs and we are looking very closely at players who could fit the bill."

Head coach Brian McClennan added: "If we could find someone similar to Eric, I would be very happy."

[Druzik]

www.superleague.co.uk/report.php?id=3086276

engage Super League champions Leeds Rhinos found their best form of the season to run Wigan Warriors ragged and open up a two-point lead with a fifth win in a row.

The Rhinos had failed to really impress despite winning their first four games but tonight they were back to their clinical best, combining aggressive forward play with slick running and passing by their backs to delight a 17,677 crowd.

Fresh from a 44-10 rout of Bradford Bulls, Wigan were looking to make it four league wins in succession at Headingley but they were simply swept aside in a blistering opening by the champions, who raced into a 22-0 lead inside half an hour to put the result beyond doubt.

The Rhinos went into the game without a specialist hooker after Matt Diskin joined Danny Buderus on the sidelines with a neck injury but it mattered little as they made a dream start with two tries in the first 10 minutes.

Prop Kylie Leuluai got a rare touchdown, taking Kevin Sinfield’s pass and wrongfooting the Warriors defence after Rob Burrow had created the attacking position with a 40-20 kick.

No team could have lived with the slick champions in the opening quarter and the Warriors were lucky to find themselves only 18-0 down.

Right winger Scott Donald pounced on a moment’s hesitation by his youthful opponent Shaun Ainscough in chasing Danny McGuire’s kick to the corner and Burrow got on the end of a superb break by second rower Ian Kirke to touch down.

Wigan players looked beaten at that stage and the sight of Jamie Peacock, Ali Lauitiiti and Brent Webb coming off the bench to add further ammunition to a lively Leeds attack would have done nothing to help their morale.

Lauitiiti produced a trademark lobbed pass to get left winger Ryan Hall over for a fourth try in the 30th minute and, although Sinfield was off target for the first time with the conversion attempt, the game was up for Wigan as they trailed 22-0.

The visitors gave themselves a glimmer of hope just before the break when the dangerous Ainscough took Thomas Leuluai’s long pass to cross for his fourth try in as many games and Pat Richards added the touchline conversion.

They started the second half as they finished the first and thought they had scored a second try within a minute of the restart.

Donald was deceived by a wicked bounce from Richards’ raking kick on halfway and Ainscough regathered to put Leuluai over at the corner only for video referee Phil Bentham to disallow the try for offside.

When second rower Gareth Hock then had a try ruled out for obstruction, Wigan knew it was not going to be their day, a feeling surely confirmed when Leeds scored from their first attack of the second half.

The lanky Hall towered above Wigan winger Amos Roberts to pluck Burrow’s kick from the air and touch down for his second try - his fifth of the season - and Sinfield’s fourth goal extended his side’s lead to 28-6.

Leeds could afford to give the returning Webb a rest but there was no respite for Wigan, with Peacock forcing his way over from close range for a sixth try and Sinfield taking his goal tally to five.

The Warriors never gave up, though, and their perseverance was rewarded in the final minute when Hock burst through for a consolation try.

[jim]

I a rumour on another forum that Souths have tabled an offer to Danny McGuire. Also a strong rumour that Kidwell will make his way to Leeds maybe in a swap. A bad one for Leeds

Anyway I hope this is true, I would love to see McGuire in the NRL.

[Marv]

me too