Lunt set for Wembley heartache if Giants and Leeds reach final

Hooker Shaun Lunt could be in the unenviable position of choosing between playing in the Challenge Cup final or cheering on Huddersfield Giants for a return to Wembley.

For Lunt is on loan from the Giants at Leeds for the season and both clubs are involved in this weekend’s semi-finals.

But a clause in Lunt’s deal means that the 25-year-old will not be able to face his parent club at Wembley on August 25 if the Rhinos beat Wigan on Saturday, and then the Giants shock Warrington 24 hours later.

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Huddersfield have a clause where he can’t play against them,” said Leeds coach Brian McDermott.

“It would be tough on Shaun should we find ourselves in the final against Huddersfield. It’s a big call for them to make on the player.

“He’s been pretty good for us. He complements Rob Burrow really well. Rob has a very particular game, a very dynamic attacking game, and Lunty comes on and offers us a fair amount of control.

“The threat starts to come from other areas when he comes on the field. He blends well with us.”

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Lunt was part of the Giants team which lost to Warrington at Wembley in the Challenge Cup final three years ago, even scoring a try.

He is likely to be included in McDermott’s semi-final 17 for the 13th consecutive match since joining the club on loan from the Giants.

McDermott has the luxury of picking from a healthy-looking squad with only injured Brent Webb on the sidelines.

In contrast, Wigan coach Shaun Wane will be without the ineligible Matty Smith and Iain Thornley, while injuries have ruled out Thomas Leuluai (broken leg) and cast doubts over the fitness of Josh Charnley and Michael McIlorum.

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Not that McDermott is expecting a depleted Warriors team come kick-off at Huddersfield’s Galpharm Stadium on Saturday.

“I’d be surprised if they don’t all play,” he said of the Warriors’ injury doubts. “I’ll play for Wigan myself if Michael McIlorum doesn’t play.”

Kylie Leuluai, Jamie Jones-Buchanan and Weller Hauraki are all in contention after sitting out the Rhinos’ 21-6 win over Hull on Friday, leaving McDermott with some tricky selection issues.

“We’ve got some blokes who have played themselves into the team,” he said. “We’re not sure what that’s going to be just yet.

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“There’s nobody ruled out through injury, other than Brent Webb, and whoever misses out, it’s going to be tough.”

McDermott was speaking at a press conference to launch the club’s new three-year sponsorship agreement with long-term backers Leeds Building Society.

Huddersfield fans are being urged to turn out and back the Giants as they seek revenge for their Wembley defeat to Warrington in 2009.

The Giants’ form has nosedived in the last two months of Super League, winning just once in eight matches, but forward Larne Patrick hopes fans will flock to Salford on Sunday (5.30pm kick-off) to support the underdogs.

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“It’d be amazing to see a lot of Claret and Gold supporters there on Sunday,” he said. “I hope that we will see plenty of fans down there, it would be great to see the Stadium packed.

“Hopefully the fans will be behind us even though our form hasn’t been great. On our day we can beat anyone, so hopefully they can be there to see that.

“I’m definitely looking forward to the occasion on Sunday.

“It means we’re only 80 minutes away from the Challenge Cup final and I’d love to get there as I’ve never been there and the Challenge Cup is a massive thing. Hopefully we can go out there on Sunday and get the win.

“I’m very determined to help get the team to Wembley.

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“We’ve pretty much got a fully fit squad now so hopefully I’ll be selected and hopefully we can get the win and go on to the final,” added Patrick. “We are confident of getting the win.”

Hull Kingston Rovers have signed former Wakefield centre Sean Gleeson for next season.

The 24-year-old – currently playing for Salford City Reds – will head to MS3 Craven Park at the end of the current campaign having penned a three-year deal with the club and will join North Queensland Cowboys second-row Cory Paterson as a Rovers’ newcomer in 2013.

“Sean is a player that I’ve been watching for a while and will be a terrific addition to our squad next year,” said Rovers’ head coach Craig Sandercock.

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“He’s been very impressive for Salford this season and at 24 years old has the best years of his career in front of him. Sean also still has a fair bit of potential to fulfil and I’m confident that he’ll be able to achieve that during his time with Hull Kingston Rovers.”

Hull FC’s new signing Ryan McGoldrick has been handed a one-match ban for pushing referee Tim Roby during his debut.

The Australian utility back, who went straight into the Hull side within hours of joining them from Castleford last Friday, was charged by the Rugby Football League’s match-review panel of making deliberate physical contact with Roby during his side’s 21-6 defeat.

Championship club Halifax have signed prop forward Tony Tonks from Huddersfield until the end of the season.

The 27-year-old will not be eligible for the Northern Rail Cup final against his former club Featherstone on July 29.