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Rhinos looking to bounce back

Author: John Harris
Date: 04/03/2010
Rugby League betting

After their disappointment on Sunday at losing a second consecutive World Club Challenge, Leeds will be looking to pick up two points at home to 12th-placed Harlequins on Friday.

A short gap between games could be exactly what is needed for a Rhinos side that was clearly frustrated by the defeat at home to Melbourne Storm in a closely fought, hard-hitting clash.

Centre Keith Senior expressed his anger in a way that could land the 33-year-old in hot water, blaming referee Richard Silverwood for allowing delaying tactics from the Australian players.

"I'm sick of him, he's arrogant," Senior initially said after the 18-10 defeat. "A lot of players don't like playing with him. He likes to be the centre of attention and he got his way tonight."

Senior subsequently retracted those comments but the RFL has confirmed that it will look into his rant, as he also said that Silverwood "said they could keep hold of the ball and mess about".

Any punishment looks unlikely to be enforced in time for the Friday night match, but the loss of Senior for a number of games could hit the Rhinos hard at a time when they are crying out for experienced heads if they are to keep up with the Super League pace.

Of more immediate concern is the thigh injury which forced captain Kevin Sinfield to leave the field after half an hour on Sunday.

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Elsewhere, Wigan will have to beat Bradford at Odsal if they are to maintain their perfect record, while Hull FC host Castleford and the two winless clubs, Salford and Catalans, contest the other Friday night match.

On Sunday, Wakefield face Huddersfield in a close-looking West Yorkshire derby.

The Wildcats lost their unbeaten record last week when St Helens edged past them 22-16, but continue to look a threat.

Neighbours Huddersfield, along with Wigan, Warrington and Hull, join them in the pack hoping to bring down the Saints/Rhinos duopoly and will offer stiff resistance.

Their clash with the Wolves last week could have gone their way, indeed only a Chris Hicks special stopped it doing so, and Brett Hodgson's team will look to go one better at Belle Vue.

Online betting favourites St Helens will know whether a win would take them top by the time they travel to Hull KR on Sunday, while Warrington are in the same boat as they host Crusaders at the same time.

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