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Leeds Rhinos: We are wiser and smarter - Peacock
England captain Jamie Peacock believes Leeds Rhinos’ squad is stronger this year than before their title-winning 2011 campaign.
Hooker Danny Buderus and back-rower Ali Lauitiiti have both departed from Rhinos’ triumphant Grand Final team and they are also without Luke Burgess, Ben Cross and Keith Senior from the squad which began last term.
Props Darrell Griffin and Richard Moore are the only players with top-flight experience added to Rhinos’ squad, but Peacock, above, reckons Leeds’ young players will be better for last year’s game-time.
Rhinos – who are currently on a warm weather training camp in Cyprus – kick-off their title defence at home to Hull KR on February 3.
“Some people have left,” Peacock accepted. “But if you looked at the squad at the start of 2011 there would have been question marks over some people who are first-team players now.
“Now there’s question marks over whether they are going to become internationals, rather than first-teamers.
“They are a year wiser and a year smarter. Weller Hauraki has settled in really well, we’ve got Kallum Watkins back after injury, Bish (Ben Jones-Bishop) got in the England squad last year and look at the way Ryan Hall developed from the start of the year to the end.
“I think that makes our squad stronger and there’s a lot more competition for places. A lot more people are ready and available for the first team.
“There’s six or seven guys going for props, two or three going for hooker and the same with the halves, centres, wings, back-row – there’s competition all over.
Honours
“That is going to create people playing to high standards.”
Buderus’ exit has left Rhinos without an experienced senior hooker, but Peacock – awarded an MBE in the new year’s honours – is confident youngsters Paul McShane and Liam Hood will both step up to the plate.
“They are good,” he said. “They have got different styles, but most importantly they both know Macca (coach Brian McDermott) will pick the one who’s playing the best.
“That will bring the best out of them. They are two young kids who are going to become great Super League players, if they keep working hard at it.
“There’s also Rob (Burrow) who came off the bench and played magnificently in the final 10 games of last year.
Peacock – whose last game was for England in the Four Nations final on November 19 – returned to training at the start of this week.
“I am really looking forward to it,” Peacock said of the new campaign.
“I really needed a rest after the Four Nations, because I didn’t really get a rest last year with coming back from my knee injury.
“I was focused on getting back playing and everything was rugby oriented.
“The last time I really had a break was December 2010, so that has been a long time to be on the treadmill.
“To get four weeks away from rugby league has really freshened me up.
“I have got my focus back and I really want to get out there and do well for the Rhinos again.”
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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