Apologetic Senior made to wait for RFL verdict over his outburst

The veteran former Great Britain centre accused the official of being "arrogant" in the immediate aftermath of his side's defeat against Melbourne Storm in Sunday's World Club Challenge.

Senior told reporters he felt Silverwood always wanted to be the centre of attention and achieved that aim following his contentious display in the Elland Road showpiece.

He later apologised for his comments saying "my emotions got the better of me" but was called in to see Leeds chief executive Gary Hetherington yesterday to explain his actions.

The club declined to say if the player is facing any disciplinary action from them, insisting it is an internal matter, but Senior must still await a decision from the Rugby Football League. Their compliance manager Blake Solly received a transcript of Senior's interview yesterday, which took place with a host of journalists outside the Elland Road changing rooms, and also had the player's apology to study.

Solly is now considering what appropriate course of action is needed and it is believed he may take up to two weeks to deliver his verdict.

However, given Senior's apology, it is understood the ex-Great Britain centre may escape with a slap on the wrist in the form of a warning letter.

Although they seem certain to be without their captain Kevin Sinfield for Friday's visit of Harlequins due to the dead leg suffered against Melbourne, Senior should be in the 19-man squad when it is named tomorrow.

Rhinos prop Jamie Peacock, meanwhile, is urging Leeds to take the standard of their World Club Challenge performance straight back into the Super League where the champions have initially struggled this season. Despite losing 18-10 against the Australian premiers, they produced by far their best display of the campaign.

"We've shown we can play well," said Peacock. "Against most Super League teams we would have maybe scored 30 points. It shows how good as a team Melbourne were to hold us out.

"It was a game that could have gone either way. If we had taken our chances, we would have been talking now about winning.

"We need to move on from the way we've been playing over the last few weeks now. We need to kick on."

Leeds have lost two of their opening four Super League games and, after a defeat against Manly in the World Club Challenge 12 months ago, went on to suffer losses in five of their next nine games, the sort of hangover they can ill-afford to endure now.