Loss of Buderus hits Rhinos hard

(Getty)

Leeds have suffered a major set-back in their attempt to win a sixth successive World Club Challenge for Britain with the loss of their Australian Test hooker, Danny Buderus.

The Rhinos' main new signing has damaged knee ligaments. There are also severe injury doubts over other players, including Brent Webb and Rob Burrow, neither of whom have played a game this year. Their coach, Brian McClennan, admitted that the loss of Buderus was a particular blow. "But we are fortunate that we have another world-class hooker in Matt Diskin," he said.

Leeds' opponents, Manly, are bound to feel that his absence improves their chances of breaking the long sequence of Australia failures in this fixture. "Any side in the world would miss Danny Buderus," said their coach, Des Hasler. It was a day of mixed news for Hasler, who also heard that the Wests Tigers coach, Tim Sheens, had been preferred to him as the new Australia coach.