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LEEDS RHINOS: History-maker Keith wants a cup of cheer to finish with
VETERAN centre Keith Senior will achieve a remarkable modern-day milestone when he lines up for Leeds Rhinos against Hull on Saturday.
It will be Senior's 500th career game – more than any other current Super League player.
Senior has made 304 appearances for Rhinos and his tally also includes 140 for Sheffield Eagles and 55 for representative teams, including 33 Test matches for Great Britain.
His total includes 12 as a substitute and he has scored 229 tries. He has played in a record 341 Super League rounds.
"I have had it in my sights for a while now and I had our media manager, Phil Daly, check up how many games I was on and when I'd achieve it," Senior said of his impending milestone.
"I was hoping it'd be at home but, if selected, it looks like it's going to be Hull FC away on Saturday. It's something I am very proud of."
Senior has missed only a handful of games throughout his career, despite playing entirely at the top level.
He said: "Touch wood, I have been one of those players who has been very fortunate with injuries.
"When I have had broken bones and things like that, I've tended to get them at the very back end of the year.
"I have been a bit fortunate in that respect and I've never really had a major, serious injury – apart from when big Joe Vagana crushed me a few years ago, which did my ankle.
"Barring that, it has been a few broken thumbs and fractures, but they've been late in the season."
Senior, who joined Rhinos from Sheffield a decade ago, isn't perpared to single out one career highlight.
He said: "Internationally, it was definitely a game against Australia at Wigan, when we had a very memorable win and I ended up scoring off a scrum.
"For Sheffield it has to be winning the Challenge Cup and for Leeds, the home win we had against St Helens, when we beat them 70-0 and I had the legs to take me for a length of the field try. That was definitely a memorable game for Leeds as well."
Though Sheffield's 1998 Challenge Cup final win over Wigan is up there as one of Senior's special career moments, he views the same competition as unfinished business.
Senior added: "I have been fortunate enough to play in a lot of good games and a lot of finals. I've played in three Grand Finals and never been on the losing side, but I haven't won the Challenge Cup with Leeds and that's the disappointing aspect.
"At Leeds we're a team that were never expected to win silverware, so I'm thankful that we've had three Grand Final and two World Club Challenge wins, but it just seems to be the Challenge Cup that eludes us. It's something we want.
"Grand Finals are great, and you always still want to win them, but the Challenge Cup's one that still keeps getting away from us."
Senior recently signed a new one-year contract which will keep him at Leeds until the end of next season – and he revealed today that he's already considering playing on after that.
The 33-year-old said: "You know when the time's right to pack in. I am still enjoying my rugby and that's the main thing.
"I feel like I'm still playing well, I'm still causing damage on the field and I feel like I can still do a job.
"Why not keep going for as long as you can, because, as a lot of people say, you're a long time retired.
"You don't want to hang your boots up too early. Next year's not necessarily it, you never say never.
"I've got the contract for next year and when you get to a certain age you take each year as it comes. If you can keep performing and you're still enjoying it, why finish?"
Senior – who is keen to move into a coaching career at some stage – would be reluctant to finish his playing days at another league club, but he confirmed a move to union is a possible option.
He started with Huddersfield YMCA in the 15-a-side code and revealed: "If Leeds Rhinos didn't want me and the opportunity arose to go and play rugby union, it's something I'd definitely have to consider.
"At the moment I definitely want to finish at the top, but circumstances change, things happen and needs must.
"If I needed to take that step, it's definitely something I'd have to consider, not only for myself, but my family as well."
LEEDS RHINOS Supporters' Club will be hosting a testimonial evening for Jamie Jones-Buchanan at the Rugby Club, in Headingley Carnegie's South Stand car park, tonight. Admission is 3.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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