McDermott sure Leeds can handle triple spell of doubling up

Leeds Rhinos coach Brian McDermott insists a mounting fixture backlog will not dent hopes of making another successful defence of their Super League title.
Brian McDermottBrian McDermott
Brian McDermott

With the season barely a quarter through, the champions have already seen two games postponed so have ground to make up with little space in the calendar.

Sunday’s match at Wakefield Trinity Wildcats was called off for a second time in 48 hours due to safety concerns after the wintry weather and Leeds already have a game in hand following their World Club Challenge against Melbourne Storm.

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Their scheduled match then – at home to Widnes Vikings – has been rearranged for Monday, June 17, three days after many of the West Yorkshire side are expected to have played in the England versus Exiles international.

There is no new date set yet for the Trinity contest, but McDermott maintains it will not be allowed to cause problems.

“The players are in good nick – we’re not dragging them out of nightclubs after a weekend to get them back into training – so, while it’s not ideal and you wouldn’t plan for it, it’s not the worst thing in the world,” he said.

“We’ve effectively got three Easters as we’ve got three lots of doubling up to do.

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“But this squad has played in a lot of games and we’re affected internationally more than most clubs so we’re used to this type of situation and we get on with it.”

There has been a positive stem from Sunday’s postponement, too, given England centre Carl Ablett and Australian second-row Brett Delaney were both doubtful for that contest, but will now be fit for Thursday’s traditional Easter derby with Bradford Bulls at Headingley Carnegie

Their rivals, meanwhile, have endured their own problems.

Although Bradford’s game did go ahead against Catalan Dragons amid spring sunshine over in Perpignan, their flights too and from their destination encountered significant delays due to snow at Leeds/Bradford Airport.

It ate into valuable preparation and rehabilitation time for the Odsal squad and things did not get any better when they returned to base. Head coach Francis Cummins revealed snow is still causing problems where they are due to practice at Tong.

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“They’re digging out our training ground, where there’s four- and five-feet drifts, so we may have to do something different in the next couple of days,” he said.

“But we’ve just got to make the best of it. It has been an eventful trip, but we’re looking forward to taking Leeds on again here at Headingley.”

His side will be looking to respond after losing 30-10 in France, only a third defeat this year.

Cummins should have Australian centre Keith Lulia back from a dead leg to bolster his options.

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Leeds’s England Knights winger Ben Jones-Bishop is seeing a specialist about the blood clot which has sidelined him so far this season and the club expect to hear the results shortly.

However, he is still some way from a playing return as is England full-back Zak Hardaker, who has had the cast removed from his broken thumb but is certainly unlikely to feature over the hectic Easter period.