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Leeds Rhinos left sweating on Smith’s fitness for Manly
LUCKLESS Lee Smith is today likely to discover whether he is ruled out of Leeds Rhinos’ World Club Challenge bid.
The former England wing cut a disconsolate figure departing DW Stadium on Saturday night after trudging away in the first half with a painful rib injury.
Smith suffered the knock in the 24th minute and, after initially trying to shrug it off, was soon replaced in the 20-6 defeat at Wigan. It has left his place in the side to face Manly Sea Eagles on Friday evening in serious doubt, all the more galling given the player had worked so hard to force his way back into Brian McDermott’s first-team plans.
Smith – who returned to Leeds in Easter 2010 after an unhappy spell at Wasps – had lost his position to young Ben Jones-Bishop last season who impressed so vigorously as Rhinos surged towards an unepxected Grand Final success that he earned a spot in the England Four Nations squad.
Ahead of their title defence, all the talk was of Leeds’s exciting youthful three-quarter trio of Jones-Bishop, Zak Hardaker and Kallum Watkins taking centre stage in 2012.
The versatile Smith was expected to remain the one missing out given the prolific Ryan Hall’s almost guaranteed slot on the left flank and Brent Webb’s influence at full-back.
However, the 25-year-old, who has featured in three Rhinos Grand Final winning sides, impressed McDermott so much during pre-season that he ousted Jones-Bishop for the opening Super League game against Hull KR and retained his spot at Wigan.
It seemed likely he was set for a decent run in the side and a third World Club Challenge appearance having scored in the 2008 win over Melbourne Storm and featured 12 months later in Rhinos’ loss to Manly.
“It is a bit of a kick in the teeth but that’s sport,” Smith told the Yorkshire Post. “You have your ups and downs and you just have to get on with it. I don’t know how bad the injury is.
“I’ve no idea (fitness for Manly) and wouldn’t like to say. Hopefully I can turn it around. I just twisted in the tackle and think I did some rib cartilage.
“You can’t do anything about that and it’s just a matter of getting home, getting it iced and then assessed on Monday.”
If Leeds-born Smith has endured cartilage damage he could face a lengthy spell out.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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