Return of key figures certain to lift Rhinos’ play-off run

The sight of Danny McGuire, Ryan Bailey and Jamie Jones-Buchanan all back in the 19 for tonight’s game against Catalan Dragons after lengthy lay-offs must have brought welcome reassurance that the champions are, once more, all set to start their annual bid for Old Trafford.

It is not that they were struggling massively without them.

Indeed, Leeds have won seven of their 10 games since England half-back McGuire broke his leg at Hull at the end of May.

Aggressive prop Bailey has been missing since injuring his thumb the following week, while industrious second-row Jones-Buchanan limped off with ligament damage as they fell 40-18 at home to Huddersfield Giants in late June.

However, given the vastly experienced trio have a staggering total of 18 Grand Final winners’ medals between them, you can see why their mere presence now will do so much to enhance Leeds’s cause.

It seems tonight’s game, the penultimate regular round, has come just a little early for Jones-Buchanan who, at 32, is the eldest of this impressive triumvirate of Rhinos Academy graduates.

But the England international told the Yorkshire Post: “It’s been brilliant having those two back in training this week.

“Maggsy (McGuire) is just a superstar. You only have to watch him for five minutes to see how much he offers.

“With the business end coming up having him back in time for the play-offs is a huge addition as is getting Bails fit too.

“Both give something only they can give and are little heroes with their own little super-powers.

“It’s a great time to have them both back in and I know they are relishing getting out there.

“Personally, I’m nearly there and am just getting some more miles back in my legs.

“I’m getting up to speed and the knee has come on leaps and bounds in terms of flexibility, strength, range and all those things.

“I’ve been fortunate as the cruciate can be quite serious, but I’ve been really well looked after.

“I probably won’t play this week unless something major happens, but I certainly hope to be in contention for Wigan next Thursday.”

Fourth-placed Leeds must win tonight to maintain pressure on Wigan in third, the Challenge Cup final victors who they trail by just two points, but who do have a vastly superior points difference.

“We’ve got to concentrate on ourselves and not look too much at them,” insisted Jones-Buchanan, Leeds having surprisingly lost on their last outing against Hull KR at Headingley.

“We’re not exactly where we want to be coming into the play-offs but we’ve got some experience coming back and now we have an opportunity to play a really tough side like Catalan.

“We want to be putting some form together and getting battle-hardened.

“I expect Wigan will get a hard game on Friday from a Hull side intent on getting some revenge after what happened at Wembley.”

At Headingley, though, there will no doubt be a warm welcome for another habitual Grand Final winner Brent Webb.

The Kiwi full-back savoured four Old Trafford triumphs in Leeds colours and now makes his first return with Catalan after last autumn’s switch to Perpignan.

“I think it’ll be like when Ali Lauitiiti came back,” said Jones-Buchanan, referencing Wakefield Trinity Wildcats’ own likeable former Leeds great.

“Webby’s a big favourite of the fans here and has been a big part of our journey over the last decade. He’s a great lad too.

“It’s tough to see people like that leave Leeds but his job with Catalan will be at the forefront of his mind now and I can’t see him taking any prisoners against us on Friday.

“I’ve already told Kev (Sinfield) to expect a couple of elbows in the chin when Webby’s wriggling around to get free.

“He’s all arms and legs and pretty famous for winding characters up so I expect a few will cop some this week.”

Webb – who has missed much of his debut season in France after back surgery – will hope to end the French club’s miserable run at Headingley where they have still yet to win in eight attempts.

Meanwhile, 12,000 miles away, the Dewsbury-born Burgess brothers – Sam, Luke, George and Tom – will become the first quartet of siblings to play together in Australia for more than 100 years when they line-up for South Sydney against Wests Tigers today.

Bets are now being taken on all four of the marauding forwards to play for England this autumn.

Jones-Buchanan, who played alongside Luke at Leeds, said: “We actually had a World Cup meeting on Wednesday and spoke about the schedule for what’s to come.

“It just reminded me of all that strength that we do have out there playing in the NRL week in, week out.

“You can easily forget we’ve got people like all those Burgess brothers, James Graham, Jack Reed and Gareth Widdop too.

“There are a lot of quality players gathering big experience, but actually ripping it up as well proving they can actually play against the best.

“They’ll be relishing the chance to get back over here and help England.

“I don’t think we’ve ever been too far behind the Aussies when it comes to forwards and we’re going to have some real strength in depth there.”

Jones-Buchanan is desperate to get back and strengthen his own bid for inclusion in Steve McNamara’s squad, though he does not envisage a run-out with Hunslet Hawks on Sunday.

“I was dual-registered but I’m not a million miles away from where I was before,” he said.

“What other lads who have come back have done is have a few minutes off the bench and hopefully I’ll get to do the same at Wigan on Thursday.”