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Rhinos willing to wait on Smith’s fitness for Manly
Brian McDermott and captain Kevin Sinfield with Manly coach Geoff Toovey
Leeds Rhinos coach Brian McDermott insists he will give Lee Smith every possible chance to prove his fitness for the World Club Challenge.
As opponents Manly Sea Eagles got their first look at Headingley Carnegie yesterday – venue for Friday night’s game – the injury news emanating from the camps was distinctly different.
England winger Smith’s hopes of shaking off a rib injury in time were deemed “slim” but the Australians announced their own Test wideman David Williams was fit to play again after a broken neck.
They had been the major concerns for each club at the start of a week which will end with one being crowned the sport’s greatest club side.
Given the magnitude of the occasion ahead, McDermott is in no mood yet to rule out Smith, who was injured in Saturday’s loss at Wigan Warriors.
“His chances are slim but I don’t want to write him off,” he said
“He’ll certainly be given until the 11th hour but was very sore this morning so he’s not looking great. If he’s popped a rib cartilage or torn some of those muscles in that area, it’s pretty serious.
“Given that, he’s started off this year really well for us, his head is in the right place and he’s been in good shape so I’ll give him as long as we can.”
Williams, meanwhile, has already waited long enough for his own opportunity to return following the horrific injury suffered against Melbourne Storm last August.
The bearded winger, 25, fractured his vertebra in a collision with Australia team-mate Billy Slater.
It meant he missed their Grand Final win but Manly coach Geoff Toovey told the press conference at Headingley that he will play against the Super League champions.
“There was a bit of doubt whether he’d come over last week,” he said. “He had to pass a fitness test, not only for his neck but he had a foot injury last month too.
“He’s looking good now though and got through training really well. It’s a big boost.
“David’s a very confident player. It was a fairly serious injury and he’s really excited to be back playing football.”
As Manly co-captains Jamie Lyon and Jason King absorbed the stadium’s rich history yesterday, reading up on fellow countryman Sir Don Bradman’s famous unbeaten 334, Toovey insisted they were here to make their own.
They may not have had a warm-up game in readiness and will have the odds stacked against them , especially as the game is at Headingley and not Elland Road, but he is adamant they are ready.
“The boys are sick and tired of running around the field and playing against nobody,” said Toovey, the nuggety ex-Australian scrum-half who played nearly 300 games for Manly, then acted as assistant before taking over following Des Hasler’s acrimonious winter exit.
“They want to get out there and play some football. It doesn’t matter where.
“I think the players will be very excited about playing here in front of a hostile crowd and we’ll really take that on board.
“It’s a great experience for our players. Not many have been over here. There are a handful of internationals amongst them, though, who are used to playing in England and that will help us. But it’s a one-off game and our players will be up for it.”
There remain question marks about how serious Australian clubs take the annual challenge but the fact remains they have secured the title in each of the last three seasons.
Manly defeated Leeds in 2009 before Melbourne also overcame the West Yorkshire club and St George’s Ilawarra proved too strong for Wigan last season.
Fourteen of the Manly squad that beat New Zealand Warriors in their Grand Final have made the trip and they are in no mood to relinquish the crown.
“The squad’s taken it very seriously and it’s a good reward for players to come over and represent the NRL competition against the best team in Super League,” added Toovey.
“It’s a big honour for all involved but we know we’ve got a very formidable team to play against.”
Ben Jones-Bishop is waiting in the wings if Smith does not recover for Leeds while Kallum Watkins is expected to return after a minor wrist injury.
Guiseley football manager Steve Kittrick, 53, has become a Wakefield Trinity Wildcats director.
The local businessman joins chairman and owner Andrew Glover and chief executive James Elston on a three-man board.
“I’ve enjoyed my rugby and I’m a Wakefield lad so I want to give something back to Wakefield,” he said.
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