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Rhinos Cup Task Gets Even Harder 10 views 0 Images
18 August 2012 by Englandfan
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The news this week that half-back, Danny McGuire, is set to miss the Challenge Cup final through injury has made Leeds Rhinos’ task of winning the trophy a great deal harder, with some critics claiming that victory is now impossible for the Yorkshire club.
McGuire had to be helped off the field during Leeds’ routine 68-24 win over Widness, and it appears that the news is not good, with the 29-year-old suffering serious damage to his knee that will see him out for up to eight weeks.
His absence from the Rhinos side could seriously hamper Leeds’ performance on the final day, forcing head coach, Brian McDermott, to admit that he will need to change things around ahead of the clash with Warrington.
“We are absolutely devastated for Danny that he will miss out on Wembley,” said McGuire this week. “This is the worst possible news that we could have received so close to the final, and clearly we will have to have a major rethink about our tactics.”
With the final just a week away, McDermott will have to think fast to get his team into shape. Leeds’ only defeat in the last nine games came against Wakefield when McGuire was serving a suspension. Having lost the Super League’s joint top try-scorer, the head coach is already scouring the ranks looking for a replacement.
Some fans betting on sports have suggested that the loss of McGuire will not severely damage the team, with the likes to Kevin Sinfield and Rob Burrow more than capable of carrying the team.
Sinfield should be able to shoulder the half-back pressure of two men, while Burrow is set to once more direct the game from the centre of the park, much like he did in the Grand Final, last October.
There are reasons for Leeds fans to be optimistic therefore, even if their task is now a monumental one. The Rhinos are 12/5 to win the Challenge Cup in the odds betting, behind the 1/3 Warrington.
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