Ailing Rhinos boosted after star duo make themselves available

The ailing West Yorkshire club initially had seven players set to be involved in the inaugural International Origin match at Headingley Carnegie on Friday night, causing deep concern over their hopes of prospering in the Super League fixture at the same ground on Sunday evening.

However, Kiwi full-back Brent Webb has been released from the Exiles’ squad – a side based from the finest overseas talent in the competition – so he is available while England duo Jamie Peacock and Kevin Sinfield yesterday promised to turn out for club and country if asked.

The news will be welcomed by Leeds coach Brian McDermott who has seen his struggling side concede 42 points in each of their last two games against Warrington and St Helens.

Sat in sixth spot, they can ill-afford another defeat and realise their East Yorkshire rivals, fresh from a morale-boosting derby victory over Hull FC, have no representatives in either of Friday’s squads.

England captain Peacock is just six games into his comeback from a knee reconstruction but insists he is ready for the arduous challenge of taking to the field twice in just three days.

“I’m putting my name forward,” he said.

“I’ll let Brian Mac (McDermott) know that I’m available to play Sunday as long as I come through the game on Friday.

“We’re training on Saturday morning so if they need me to play, I’ll play.”

His sentiments were echoed by Leeds captain Sinfield who also has a proud record to maintain given he has featured in every minute of every game so far this season.

“If selected for Friday and I come through okay, I’d love to play again on Sunday,” he said, with England winger Ryan Hall, Leeds’s top try-scorer, and second-row Jamie Jones-Buchanan, likely to do the same if picked when Steve McNamara announces his side today.

Danny Buderus and Kylie Leuluai are in action for the Exiles and expected to play major roles so it remains uncertain yet whether they will feature, but McDermott’s squad strength should not be tested as severely as first expected.

Peacock, meanwhile, is confident England similarly have the depth to deal with their own selection problems, with Huddersfield scrum-half Danny Brough and St Helens hooker James Roby both out due to injury. Brough will be out for eight weeks with damaged ankle ligaments.

Leeds-born Wigan hooker Michael McIlorum is likely to debut, battling with Huddersfield’s Luke Robinson for a starting role, while Warrington’s Richie Myler will earn an England recall.

“Mickey’s playing very well for Wigan and I think he will come in and add to it,” added Peacock. ““We’ve got Luke Robinson in there as well.

“James Roby has been one of the best players in Super League this year and Danny Brough is also very difficult to replace but whoever comes in at scrum-half will do a fantastic job.”

Hull FC’s Willie Manu, the Sydney-born Tongan international who was in England’s Four Nations train-on squad last year, will line up for the Exiles having not ruled out playing his way back into McNamara’s own plans.

“I haven’t thought about England too much just yet,” he said. “For me, this week is all about concentrating on playing for the Exiles. If England comes up again down the line, I’ll think about it then. It was a shock when I got the (Exiles) call.

“I thought someone was playing a game with me so I kept it quiet.

“I went and asked my coach Richard Agar and he told me it was real. I was pretty stoked when he gave me the okay.

“I’m enjoying my footy and they say if you’re enjoying it, you’re playing good. I feel a lot better and a lot fitter.”

n Hunslet Hawks have made a double signing with former Leeds Tykes winger Chris Hall arriving from Morley and ex-Hull KR youngster Jack Latus moving to South Leeds from Harlequins.

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