Leeds Rhinos: Future put on hold as Lunt gets set to take out Cup final revenge on Wolves

WEMBLEY-BOUND Shaun Lunt has paid tribute to the work of Leeds Rhinos assistant Jimmy Lowes in taking his career to a new level.

The Cumbrian hooker, who represented England less than two years ago, had dropped to third choice at Huddersfield Giants before moving to Headingley on a season-long loan in April.

There he came under the command of Lowes, one of the greatest hookers of the modern era, and he admits the experience has been fulfilling.

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“Jimmy’s been fantastic,” said Lunt ahead of Saturday’s Challenge Cup final against Warrington Wolves.

“He’s taught me a few things and shown me stuff I needed to work on. I’m always asking him about my game and am always willing to learn from him.

“I grew up watching Jimmy as a kid so you’ve got to listen to people like that as they’ve been there and done it all before. To have someone coaching me who I looked up to when I was a lad is just great. I obviously worked with him in 2010 as well when I played with England.

“I get on really well with Jimmy – although I’m a bit hyper for him at times – but he’s a real approachable guy who goes out of his way to help you.”

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Lowes, of course, won the Challenge Cup twice as a player with Bradford Bulls, beating Leeds both in 2000 and 2003 having earlier lost at Wembley as a youngster with Rhinos in 1994 and again the following year.

Lunt would have been prevented from playing this weekend if parent club Huddersfield had defeated Warrington in the semi-final but, fortunately, Tony Smith’s side prospered so the 25-year-old is able to retain his place in the Leeds squad.

He has experienced Wembley before, scoring in a Huddersfield side that lost to Warrington in 2009, his first season in top-flight football after joining from Workington Town.

“I can remember Paul Cooke yelling to me that it will fly by so make the most of it while I can,” he recalled.

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“He was right. That was three years ago and it feels like yesterday. It was a fantastic day and I managed to get a try in what was a memorable first year in Super League for me, but I’ve always wanted to go back and put the wrongs right.

“I get that chance now. I just didn’t think I’d be going back as I am in such a surreal way – on loan at such a great club as Leeds.”

Lunt, a spectator when his brother played for West Cumbria Schoolboys against a Leeds side containing current team-mate Carl Ablett in the 1996 final curtain-raiser, has put off contract talks about next season until after the weekend.

He has two years remaining on his deal at Huddersfield but has made such an impact in his 17 games at Leeds he is hoping to see his time there extended.

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Lunt said: “I spoke to my manager and said I d didn’t want to talk about stuff until after this game; I don’t want to be getting excited or getting down by anything.

“As for the game, we’ve just got to keep as cool as we can.

“It’s one of the biggest games in anyone’s career but you have to stay grounded or otherwise that’s when you make stupid decisions on the field.”

Rangi Chase is ready to make a surprise return from injury in Castleford Tigers’ game against Catalan Dragons a week Sunday.

The England stand-off, set to join Hull FC if a visa issue can be resolved, was not expected to be fit again this term but is primed to face the Frenchmen with hooker Daryl Clark also making his comeback from a knee injury suffered in May.

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Hull, meanwhile, have kept Jamie Foster on loan from St Helens on a week-to-week basis.

Keighley Cougars are without ex-Bradford Bulls winger Semi Tadulala (hamstring) for tonight’s trip to Leigh, but player-coach Jason Demetriou hopes to see Gavin Duffy and Craig Moss return.