Inner-belief and run of form could see Rhinos upset the bookmakers

Leeds Rhinos star Jamie Peacock knows all about what it takes to win a Grand Final as an underdog. Dave Craven finds out why the England captain is feeling reminiscent in the play-offs.

Bookmakers rarely get caught out when it comes to significant betting occasions; it’s why they are so good at what they do.

So it is for good reason why Warrington Wolves are priced at 4-6 on to win their first Super League Grand Final in less than three weeks’ time even though they have yet to negotiate an actual semi-final.

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Friday’s immense 47-0 destruction of Huddersfield Giants – despite their opponents’ obvious frailties – took them to within 80 minutes of Old Trafford and it is hard to envisage them being denied.

But the beauty of the play-off system, and the sudden-death nature it now enters, means the chance of an upset is still there.

Because of that, and the potential uncertainty around it all, equal note needs to be taken of the bookmakers’ actions regarding Leeds Rhinos whose odds have been shortened to 12-1.

Given in its entire 13-year history only two sides have ever reached a Grand Final from third position, it appears unthinkable the West Yorkshire club could actually win it from fifth.

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But adamant Leeds prop Jamie Peacock told the Yorkshire Post: “I believe it can be done.

“In life, people are always doings things that have never been done before.

“We like the challenge and know we’re going to have to do it the hard way to win the Grand Final but it’s our firm belief we’re capable of doing that.

“I’ve been in a team that’s done it before (from third) and now, I believe we can do it with Leeds from fifth. So, do the rest of the players here.”

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Indeed, the totemic forward is the only captain to have lifted the famous trophy from a third-place finish, memorably upsetting Leeds while at Bradford Bulls in 2005, so he knows what is required for such timely runs.

That year, a disillusioned Bradford overcame a torrid start to deliver a 12-match winning sequence which resulted in the unlikeliest of triumphs.

Players spoke of an inner-belief that something momentous was about to happen and England captain Peacock reveals similar feelings are now surfacing at Headingley Carnegie.

Leeds endured their own dismal opening to 2011 but now realise a ninth win in 11 games at Huddersfield on Friday would see them one step from Old Trafford.

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Peacock, outstanding as Rhinos ended Hull’s hopes on Sunday evening, cites an abysmal night in mid-July as the point when they realised their campaign was nearing make or break.

“You have to be at your lowest point before you can improve,” he said.

“Our lowest was Catalan away (38-18 loss). The attitude that night was disgusting.

“We’ve picked up and improved and now everyone is on board with the right attitude.

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“We’ve changed what we do as a team and fully understand what Brian (McDermott) wants us to do.

“We’ve taken our time to get there but we’re there now and enjoying it.”

Perhaps there will now be some money fluttered on Leeds – champions three years running between 2007 and 2009 – due to the obvious force gathering.

Peacock admits he always thought they would recover from that French nadir.

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“I’ve been in worse places – probably Bradford’s record defeat at home to Saints when Leon (Pryce) got sent off being the lowest of all,” he said, referring to the humiliating 66-4 loss in 2005.

“But we kicked on from there, went unbeaten, got ourselves to the final and won it.

“I don’t think there was any one real turning point that year. We just gathered more momentum all the time and I remember being on the bus to the final realising we could win.

“We’d been to Saints and beaten them and knew we could beat Leeds too.

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“Now, I can sense the momentum getting bigger each week again here too.

“We’re happy with where we’re going but we know we need to keep improving and each week we’ll have to play better opposition.”

Huddersfield, the only other remaining Yorkshire representatives after Hull KR were ejected by Catalan to join their vanquished city rivals, are those next opponents.

Leeds edged a 31-24 victory there only nine days ago and, with the Giants also suffering further misery at Warrington, the Rhinos are seen as favourites to prosper to face either Warrington or St Helens.

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“Huddersfield have faltered a little bit but have been a very good team this year and, when a good team like them gets nilled by 47 points, you expect a response the following week,” insisted Peacock.

“We’re expecting a completely different Giants side to the one that played last Friday and more like the one we played the week before. Very strong.”

The rest of the play-off race has opened up slightly given St Helens’ win at champions Wigan, who must now defeat Catalan to reach the last four.

Third-placed Saints subsequently have the bonus of a home qualifying semi-final as they seek a sixth successive Grand Final appearance and Peacock admits: “They have snook under the radar.

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“Saints have a good side and have that winning pedigree while they are obviously well-coached by Royce Simmons.

“They are dangerous, as are Warrington who have taken teams to the cleaners, but for me Catalan – if they play anything like they did against Hull KR – are going to be a threat. I remember playing them in the first year of Club Call in 2009. We eventually managed to win but the first 30 or 35 minutes against them was the hardest I’ve ever played in Super League. They’re the real dark horses and Wigan won’t hold any fear for them.”

However, Catalan may be missing prop David Ferriol after he was ordered to face tonight’s RFL disciplinary for using his knees in that 56-6 Rovers defeat, Peacock’s Leeds team-mate Ryan Bailey also called on a similar charge after a challenge from Hull’s Danny Tickle.

Super League Play-offs in quotes ... so far

“I couldn’t be bothered. I’m not going to be part of it. I’ll leave it up to other people. I’ve never been a fan of it.”

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Warrington Wolves head coach Tony Smith will prepare his side for anybody in the qualifying semi-final but will not be making the controversial Club Call decision himself.

“We learned the hard way last year when we had to play through so it’s another opportunity for us. We need to make sure we get everything right this week.”

Defeated Wigan Warriors coach Michael Maguire is not perturbed at needing a second chance against Catalan Dragons having won the title last season with a similar route.

“We had eight players sitting on the sideline. Four of them probably won’t get back but two or three will be trying to squeeze back in. The week off certainly helps.”

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After stunning Wigan Warriors, coach Royce Simmons knows his refreshed St Helens side will be even stronger when they await their semi-final opponents – possibly their bitter rivals again.

“We’ve got to get together as a group and work out which way we’re going to go.”

Honest Huddersfield Giants coach Nathan Brown knows his side will have work to do before Leeds’ arrival as they head into this sudden-death match in worrying form.

“Our attitude has been very strong for some weeks now and what goes on in the inside of this place is more important than anything that goes on outside of it.”

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Improving Leeds Rhinos and their head coach Brian McDermott are clearly in determined mood ahead of their game with Huddersfield.

“We’re getting better and getting Thomas Bosc back in the team is a late plus for us, but we’ll have to come up with another big game on Sunday again.”

Catalan Dragons coach Trent Robinson knows champions Wigan Warriors will be far more testing than vanquished Hull KR.