After the comfortable victory in TW7 last weekend the Rhinos hit the road
again and after no trips to Hilton Park for many a year this will be the
third inside 12 months. Leigh were members of engage Super League last
season but were crushed at Hilton Park 60-4
in May and 74-0 in August by the
Rhinos. Leeds have announced a 20 man squad for this fixture already and
Tony Smith has suggested that Ashley Gibson, who got 22 points on debut
against Leigh last season, will be in the run on side. Otherwise its as you
were for the Rhinos as Tony Smith keeps his strongest 17 more or less on the
paddock. Still not returns for Jamie Jones-Buchanan or Mark O'Neill and Carl
Ablett drops out of the 20 to make way for the inclusion of Gibson. I'd
expect Nathan McAvoy and Nick Scruton to be left out of the initial 20.
The Rhinos 20 man squad is Mathers, Donald, Walker, Senior, Smith, McGuire,
Burrow, Bailey, Diskin, Peacock, Lauitiiti, Ellis, Sinfield, Millard,
Poching, Feather, Scruton, Kirke, McAvoy, Gibson.
Leigh are adapting to life outside engage Super League and have yet to start
their LHF National League One campaign, but they have had the Northern Rail
cup to keep them busy. They qualified as group winners, with two victories
over Widnes Vikings in that, before a shock 18-14 loss to Swinton Lions at
Hilton Park last Sunday when many observers noted they had one eye on the
game this weekend. Leigh qualified for this stage of the competition with a
80-0 victory of the Russian side Strela Kazan in round 3. With new coach
Tony Benson in place its a much changed Leigh side as well from last season,
Jonathan "Dana" Wilson, Tere Glassie, Damien Munro and Ricky Bibey joining
from Oldham, Rob "Two Bobs" Roberts and Jules O'Neil and Adam Hughes moving
from Widnes Vikings. A player to watch out for the home side is Aaron
Heremaia, a half back from the Sydney Roosters, who according to sources has
big things in front of him.
Three to watch;
Tere Glassie
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Aaron Heremaia
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Two Bobs
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No disrespect to Leigh, but I hope they manage to make some money on the day
as I can't see them troubling a Rhinos side that is in rampant form at the
moment.
Matt's Prediction
Its a traditional 3pm Sunday kick off, but bring an umbrella as there is
some light drizzle
forecast and the away end is unfortunately uncovered. The draw for the 5th
Round of the Powergen Challenge cup is die to take place on Look North on
Tuesday 4th April between 6.40pm and 6.50pm.
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