'Rhinos cannot cope with more injuries at Easter'

JAMIE JONES-BUCHANAN insists suffering Leeds Rhinos cannot cope with any more injuries or illness before the hectic Easter period.

The champions have lost three consecutive Super League games for the first time in four years and fallen outside of the top eight following the latest reverse at Wigan.

They were missing eight regulars at DW Stadium with prop Kylie Leuluai apparently pulling out shortly before kick-off with a sickness bug that also sidelined Australian centre Brett Delaney.

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Already weakened by injuries, coach Brian McClennan praised Danny McGuire's "heroic" effort after he played despite being sick throughout while prop Ryan Bailey was hit by illness before Hull KR the previous week.

However, with Bradford Bulls swiftly arriving at Headingley Carnegie on Thursday, followed by a trip to Perpignan on Easter Monday, the reigning champions can ill-afford further casualties as they bid to get their faltering season back on track.

"We've been a bit weird with so many injuries and people pulling out last minute with illnesses," admitted Jones-Buchanan, who has been playing as an emergency loose forward in the absence of injured captain Kevin Sinfield.

"It disrupts things with people playing out of position but we're not bothered and you have got to play the cards dealt.

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"We can't afford any more injury and people dropping out though. We're looking forward to playing Bradford. It's a local derby and big game and it's important we start the Easter period on the front foot."

The four-times Grand Final winner refused to be downbeat after the 24-4 loss at leaders Wigan, a depleted Leeds having been in touch with the in-form hosts for an hour.

"We pushed Wigan close for a long period and that's a positive sign," he said.

"Both Huddersfield and Hull KR before them we were within a try and if we had have done we'd be a lot closer to the top.

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"But it's a long season. It's hard when you're losing games, it starts to worry on your confidence and you start going in your shell a little but it's important we stay positive and get tight together, listen to people in camp as they're the only ones who can do anything about it.

"We've got the calibre – we've shown that in previous years – and we've some world class players to come back in the next few weeks."