Rhinos lose Donald for three months

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Leeds Rhinos will be without their accomplished right-winger Scott Donald, not just for Sunday's World Club Challenge against Melbourne Storm, but for the next three months. Donald has been told he needs a shoulder reconstruction after suffering the injury against Salford last weekend.

"Scott has undergone a number of scans this week and met with specialists," said Leeds' head of physiotherapy, Meirion Jones. "Unfortunately, the result of those meetings was that surgery is the best course of action." The Rhinos' other injured Australian back Brett Delaney gives himself a 50-50 chance of recovering from his knee injury, but will leave the final decision to Leeds' medical staff.

Melbourne's Halifax-born back Gareth Widdop has revealed that he grew up as a Bradford Bulls fan, with a particular admiration for one of Sunday night's potential opponents. "I was a massive Jamie Peacock fan, although I went off him when he moved to Leeds," he said. Widdop is expected to be named today in the Storm's 19-man squad for Elland Road. He was playing Under-16s rugby union for Old Brodleians when his family emigrated to Australia four years ago, but was spotted playing for one of Melbourne's feeder clubs.

Hull have suspended ever-present Jordan Tansey for tonight's match against Harlequins for a breach of the club's internal disciplinary code. In addition, their scrum-half Sean Long is still out with a hamstring injury, which could mean that Jordan Turner has his first outing of the season.