Expected wet weather could work to Rhinos’ advantage

The art of dummy-half play will be pivotal in tomorrow’s Grand Final but Terry Matterson tells Dave Craven how one of the simplest tactics well executed could be the key difference.

With two such commanding hookers as Danny Buderus and James Roby in operation, it is easy to see that both Leeds Rhinos and St Helens have the capability to seize control of the 2011 Engage Super League Grand Final.

Former Castleford Tigers coach Terry Matterson has seen his side hurt by each at various points during his six years at Wheldon Road and stopping them has never been the simplest of tasks.

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He foresees the battle of the ruck being crucial in deciding the outcome of this year’s title as the finalists slug it out to each negate the impact of those devastating international stars.

Whoever can control the speed there, with Leeds’s front-rows such as Kylie Leuluai, Jamie Peacock and Ryan Bailey seeking to frustrate and dominate James Graham, Tony Puletua and Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, will go far towards securing the silverware.

Matterson told the Yorkshire Post: “They’ve probably got the best two dummy-halves in the game and it’s key to winning the match – both with the ball and without it.

“Both sides like to play plenty off the back of that and are very good at scrambling defence with their full-backs each saving a lot of tries. But the ruck is where it’s going to be won and Leeds and Saints are very similar there.

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“We’ve had trouble with both of them. They each try and get quick play-the-balls and get their fast guys moving. For Leeds, Rob Burrow will try to link up with Buderus and Danny McGuire.

“Burrow ducks a lot and is very hard to handle, while Jonny Lomax is the same with Saints.”

Matterson, who helped coach the Exiles side to victory over England earlier this summer, does not place too much value on St Helens’ awful record in recent Grand Finals, losing four consecutively, including three against Leeds.

“It’s not like they’ve just lost one or two; it is four on the trot,” said the Australian, who returns home to link up as North Queensland Cowboys assistant later this month.

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“It’s definitely going to be at the back of their minds and you’d think if they go behind in the game that might affect them.

“But don’t forget Saints have got some new blood in the team with two young half-backs and two young wingers who look fearless and have plenty to play for.”

Those tyro half-backs Lee Gaskell and Lomax have thrilled crowds this season, showing remarkable maturity to drive Saints to third spot, comfortably off-setting the loss to injury of former Great Britain star Leon Pryce and relegating rugby-union bound England ace Kyle Eastmond to a peripheral figure.

Out wide, Jamie Foster, 21, has been crowned Super League’s top points scorer while winger Tom Makinson, who turns 20 on Monday, has effortlessly stepped in for the stricken Ade Gardner.

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However, with tomorrow night set to be another rain-lashed affair, just like Leeds’s trio of wins between 2007 and 2009, Matterson expects wily Rhinos captain Kevin Sinfield to do what he does best.

“Every year it starts to rain a day or two before the final and, in Sinfield, Rhinos have a master of these conditions,” he said.

“Every time Leeds have played at Old Trafford they have kicked early and kept kicking early to play it down the other end.

“Now, especially with Saints’ young wings – Makinson and Foster – I think you’ll see it again.

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“There won’t be many kicks heading in (full-back) Paul Wellens’s direction but Sinfield will make sure the ball’s down to those wings asking them to come out in those greasy conditions.

“Rhinos will just try and squeeze Saints out of the game by chasing hard and putting pressure on.

“They have done it well in these conditions time and time again and they are made for Leeds.

“They seem to play really well when it’s wet with those little guys like Burrow, who have such good feet, getting between defenders, and it might be too much for Saints.

“They love a dry ground and playing on the top.”