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Tuesday 2nd December 2008 Make us your HOME PAGE  What is RSS?

RUGBY LEAGUE

LEEDS BANKING ON SMITH ALL-CLEAR

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FAITH: Brian McClennan

Tuesday September 30,2008

By Martin Richards

LEEDS are confident Lee Smith won’t be denied his big day at Old Trafford despite the winger being charged with kicking an opponent.

Smith goes before the disciplinary panel tonight after a video review panel decided he had a case to answer following the clash with Wigan’s Phil Bailey in the Rhinos’ 18-14 victory in the final eliminator on Friday.


Referee Steve Ganson put Smith on report for allegedly kicking Bailey in the face which marred the two-try show that brought him the man-of-the-match award and which now threatens his appearance in Saturday’s Super League Grand Final against St Helens. 


“We’ve got faith in the  judiciary system,” Leeds coach Brian McClennan said. “We’ll see how it goes but I’m fairly confident we’ll be OK. You’ve always got contingency plans but we’re not going to go too far down that road.”


Hooker Matt Diskin, who was placed on report for an alleged high tackle, will not face any disciplinary action.


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St Helens coach Daniel Anderson has to decide whether to recall a fit-again Jason Cayless after the Kiwi Test prop came through a full training session yesterday.


Cayless, a Grand Final winner in Australia with Sydney Roosters, hasn’t played since damaging a knee at Huddersfield a week before last month’s Challenge Cup final. 


Cayless is set to replace Hull-bound Nick Fozzard, who has been left out of Saints’ Wembley line-up despite impressing in the  semi-final win over Leeds.


“It’s a difficult decision, but not an uncomfortable one,” said Anderson, who takes charge of Saints for the last time on Saturday before returning to Australia.


Anderson doesn’t feel the semi-final win over Leeds a fortnight ago will have any bearing on Saturday’s game.


“Leeds may have been off the pace then but they have never had a psychological problem,” he added. “Most players, side for side, are either current or ex-international or the best youngsters in the game. We both have our fair share of hard heads and youth, the balance is strong and that’s why we are both in the Grand Final.”


Saints skipper Keiron Cunningham is set to give Saints a pre-final boost by  signing a new 12-month contract.


But prop Sam Thompson is joining Widnes and strength and conditioning coach Apollo Perelini is leaving to head up an elite sporting academy in Dubai.


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