McGuire’s season hangs in balance

The England scrum-half faces a maximum two-game ban if found guilty by the RFL disciplinary committee this evening.

McGuire was put on report for the challenge on Louis Anderson during Friday’s 27-20 play-off success at Catalan Dragons.

Leeds coach Brian McDermott hoped the review panel would show “common sense” when they scrutinised the incident, arguing Anderson fell into the tackle.

However, they have deemed it merits an appearance before the disciplinary so the pivotal 29-year-old faces an anxious wait.

McGuire had enjoyed an unblemished record until this season, but now makes a second appearance before the panel inside just two months.

He was handed a one-match ban and fined £300 after making dangerous contact with Bradford full-back Brett Kearney in July.

McGuire – who has featured in all five of Leeds’s Grand Final wins – proved yet again how influential he is to their cause with a decisive try and drop-goal in France last weekend.

The West Yorkshire club missed his creativity markedly when he was forced to sit out last month’s Challenge Cup final through injury, Rhinos subsequently falling against Warrington Wolves.

To lose him again now would be a hammer blow to their chances of retaining the league title and, worryingly, there has not been a ‘not guilty’ verdict all year.

Leeds, remarkably given their play-off history, have been priced at 8-1 to go on and win a fifth title in six years at Old Trafford.

Those odds will drift out further still if McGuire is suspended while Wigan are favourites at 
10-11, with St Helens 10-3 and Warrington 11-4.

Meanwhile, McDermott admits being “mystified” by the withering comments Catalan opposite number Trent Robinson aimed at referees following their fixture.

The Australian, who is heading home to Sydney Roosters, was furious after Leeds knocked the French club out of the play-offs .

He felt referee Ben Thaler made some critical errors but also claimed officials had made more mistakes against his side than any other over the last two years and insisted he had statistical proof.

But McDermott told the Yorkshire Post: “It mystifies me what Trent Robinson was talking about.

“Catalan have been awarded more penalties than any other side in Super League this season heading into last week.

“It’s renowned that when you go to Catalan you lose the penalty count.

“That’s got nothing to do with the style of play from Catalan or ill-discipline from travelling teams.

“It’s do with the crowd and over 10,000 French people appealing for every single play, whether offensively or defensively.

“They do it really well and that’s the reality.”

Leeds full-back Zak Hardaker has been nominated as Super League’s Young Player of the Year.

The England Knights star, 20, has been a revelation since switching from centre to deputise for the injured Brent Webb in June.

Only Sam Tomkins and Hull FC’s Willie Manu have bust more tackles than the ex-Featherstone player this season and he has gone on to score 21 tries.

Hardaker is in the running along with Bradford Bulls’ second-row John Bateman, the England Academy captain who turned 19 yesterday and has enjoyed a brilliant breakthrough season in Super League. St Helens’ Josh Jones is the other nominee.

Wigan full-back Tomkins – who Leeds will so desperately need to keep quiet at the weekend – has been shortlisted for the prestigious Man of Steel award.

Saints hooker James Roby and Wakefield-born Ben Westwood, the steely Warrington second-row, are also in the reckoning.

Both Roby, who won the award in 2007, and Tomkins were short-listed last season but lost out to Rangi Chase, the Castleford Tigers and England half-back.

However, Westwood has plenty of admirers among his peers, who vote through a secret ballot, and the hard-working England forward could yet pip both again.

The victors will be announced at a gala dinner in Manchester on Monday night along with the Coach of the Year.

Elsewhere, Catalan forward Jamal Fakir has until 11am this morning to submit an early guilty plea in relation to a Grade B, reckless high tackle offence committed on Leeds hooker Rob Burrow.

His Catalan team-mate Clint Greenshields has signed a 12-month deal with North Queensland Cowboys.

Hull’s Joe Westerman will also appear before tonight’s disciplinary committee after he was charged with a Grade B high tackle on Michael Monaghan in their play-off loss at Warrington.

Hull’s Martin Aspinwall has joined Championship club Leigh Centurions on a 12-month deal.

The 30-year-old ex-Great Britain three-quarter began his career with Wigan in 2001 before joining Huddersfield Giants, where he made the switch to second-row.

He then featured at Castleford Tigers before playing this season at the KC Stadium where he has been a valuable member of Peter Gentle’s squad.

The arrival of England star Gareth Ellis, however, meant he was not offered a new deal but Leigh have been swift to sign him on.

Hull winger Reece Lyne, 19, used his Twitter account to confirm he has signed for Wakefield Trinity Wildcats next season, rejoining his former Airlie Birds coach Richard Agar, while prop Paul Johnson, 24, is moving the other way on a two-year deal.

Gentle said: “He works very hard, is consistent and whilst he can pack a punch in the forward line, he’s still a fine athlete and very mobile.”

Bradford’s new owner Omar Khan plus honorary chairman Gerry Sutcliffe and head coach Francis Cummins will answer questions at a fans’ forum in the Coral Stand at Odsal tonight, 7pm.