(cont from page 1) ...many of the World Championship side have departed in the close season; Mark Calderwood, SLX's leading try scorer, has gone to Wigan, Marcus Bai and McKenna have gone to Bradford Bulls, Barry MacDermott has retired from playing to join the Rhinos' coaching staff and Andrew Dunneman has inexplicably been allowed to join Salford City Reds. And in mid-January 2006, the Rhino's Great Britain prop forward Danny Ward was sensationally sacked due to disciplinary problems

Thus far it looks bad for Rhinos fans but during the close season Danny McGuire had an operation to cure the niggling injury which prevented him repeating his fabulous Super League IX try-scoring performances during Super League X. The ankle injury to Keith Senior just prior to the Challenge Cup Final against Hull is seen by many as the point at which the Leeds Rhinos' season began to implode but he is now fully recovered.

Perhaps the biggest signing of the close season was that of Great Britain and Bulls captain Jamie Peacock. Despite playing for the Bulls, Peacock was actually born in Leeds and is happy to be playing for his home-town club. Ironically, Peacock's replacement as Bulls Captain is former Leeds Rhinos player, illegally signed by the Bulls in 2004, Iestyn Harris.

Tony Smith has also brought in several of his fellow cobbers to strengthen the Rhinos squad and their quality in the Super League remains to be tested. New Aussies are hooker Shane Millard and winger Scott Donald. Other Aussie, forward Mark O'Neill, has joined but he injured a shoulder in the Boxing Day game. New recruit, Brit Nathan McEvoy, has also undergone a minor knee but will be ready for the new season's start.