Leeds Rhinos v Melbourne Storm
Date: Sun 27 February Kick off: 1830
This Sunday sees one of the highlights of the Rugby League calendar take place. Playing in front of a packed Elland Road Stadium the champions of the English Super League, Leeds Rhinos, will face Melbourne Storm, arguably one of the best sides to have ever played the game, and current NRL champions.
History
In the last decade the Rhinos have finally managed to shake off the tag of perennial runners up that plagued them throughout the nineties. And they have done so in record breaking fashion. The last six seasons have seen them twice crowned minor premiers, they have won the coveted Super League grand final four times, including a record breaking run of three victories in the last three years, and they have been crowned champions of the world before, beating the Canterbury Bulldogs in 2005 and Sundays opponents Melbourne two years ago.
As much as Leeds have dominated proceedings up here Melbourne have in Australia. Since 2006 they have made history by contesting the last four grand finals, winning in 2007 and 2009.
They are a team littered with world class players. Golden boot winner Greg Inglis is comfortably the best centre in the world, Billy Slater one of the best full backs and with captain Cameron Smith dictating proceedings its easy to see why they have been so successful down under. Melbourne are a unit with the class and caliber to potentially beat any team - in either code of rugby.
Expectations
If there is any team from these shores that can put up a challenge against the champions of Australia though it’s the Leeds Rhinos. With a squad largely built around home grown talent, theirs is one that will fight for each other and give everything to the team. The Rhinos are blessed with some of the finest talent from overseas with players like former Australia captain Danny Buderus and World Cup winner Greg Eastwood in the ranks, they can score from any position on the field and they have the experience of winning in the big games.
Recent form however has not matched the expectations of the Leeds faithful. Losing twice and registering two scrappy wins all against teams they would have expected to walk over means the Rhinos have not been looking invincible of late. On top of this is the damaging news that winger Scott Donald will be out for up to three months following a shoulder injury and new signing Brett Delany is a doubt for the match. This could lead to a huge mismatch on the night with 18 year old Kallum Watkins looking likely to be facing up against Inglis.
Melbourne on the other hand are still in their pre-season training and the only noticeable absentee is half back Cooper Cronk. Coach Craig Bellamy could also spring a surprise debut call for English born Gareth Widdop.
The greatest challenge
Last time the teams played Leeds triumphed 11-4. It will however, be a totally different match this time round. That game was played in some of the worst weather conditions possible and of that Melbourne team only five remain. Expect the match to be won and lost on how well Leeds can contain Inglis, Slater and the Melbourne pack. They have strong enough forwards to do this and the Rhinos also have the advantage of been more battle hardened but Leeds coach Brian McClennan was under no illusions when he described the match as, "the greatest challenge we have ever been involved in." He is certainly not wrong there.
The very prospect of his team beating what many already claim to be the best team in the world and gaining yet another piece of silverware has occupied him and his team’s thoughts throughout the early rounds of the Super League. Here’s hoping that all that preparation will pay off and they can win England another title from the Aussies.