Ward must still fight for his Rhinos spot, warns McDermott

Teenager Stevie Ward will have to fight for his place in the Leeds Rhinos’ Wembley team, coach Brian McDermott has warned.

The 18-year-old back-row forward pulled out of the England academy tour to Australia in order to give him the best chance of keeping his spot in the side to play Warrington in the Carnegie Challenge Cup final.

But McDermott has warned the youngster that making the personal sacrifice will not guarantee his place in the side.

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“That was made very clear during that decision-making process,” he said. “Stevie needed to have all the information to make a really big call and I’ve been talking to his family.

“There’s no doubt that, had he gone on tour, it would have enhanced his career and made him a far more rounded player but then you’d argue staying with us and building up to the Challenge Cup final is also going to be really beneficial to him.

“Part of the information he needed to have is that there is no guarantee that he will play. That’s the gamble he takes. It was a big decision for an 18-year-old to make and, whether he plays in the final or not, I think he’s made the right choice.”

Instead of boarding a flight to Sydney yesterday, Ward was training at Kirkstall with his Leeds team-mates preparing for tomorrow’s Super League derby with Bradford.

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Unlike Warrington coach Tony Smith, McDermott does not intend resting any of his players in the build-up to the August 25 final.

Full-back Brent Webb returns to the Rhinos’ 19-man squad after recovering from a knee injury. He replaces Carl Ablett (hamstring).

n Talks were still progressing last night over the proposed sale of Bradford to a consortium of businessmen.

Administrator Brendan Guilfoyle had expected to receive a formal bid yesterday from the the ABC consortium, but was last night still locked in protracted negotiations.