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Round 9 - Rhinos V Broncos

Leeds captain Kevin Sinfield believes the engage Super League can expect another thriller when London Broncos visit Headingley on Saturday.

The game brings together some of the most exciting half-backs in the competition and Sinfield is convinced it will make for an entertaining spectacle.

The in-form Rob Burrow, fit-again Danny McGuire, makeshift hooker Andrew Dunemann and Sinfield himself give the Rhinos a sharp cutting edge whilst Thomas Leuluai, Luke Dorn and Mark McLinden have excelled for the new-look Broncos.

Champions Leeds go into the game with a six-point advantage over the Broncos in the table but Sinfield is wary of the dangers posed by Tony Rea?s side.

?The Broncos are a very entertaining side and I can only agree with Tony Rea?s sentiments that they play the best rugby in the capital,? Sinfield told BBC Online.

?They love to throw the ball around and in many ways play a similar brand of rugby to Leeds.

?It?s amazing to think that the side only came together in the off-season. The way they have gelled together in such a short time is credit to Tony, his staff and the players.

?The half-backs of Luke Dorn, Thomas Leuluai and Mark McLinden have all caught the eye, but [second row] Lee Hopkins in the man who has really impressed me. He has been outstanding.?

The Broncos got their season of to a flying start with four wins in their opening six games before Easter defeats to Hull and bottom side Leigh checked their progress.

But they got back to winning ways with a 70-4 thrashing of Hunslet in the Powergen Challenge Cup last week and forward Francis Stephenson sees no reason why the champions cannot be beaten.

The Broncos, then threatened by relegation, forced a draw with Leeds last July and Stephenson is confident.

?We think we?ve got a good chance,? former Wakefield prop Stephenson told Sky Sports.

?When we played them at Brentford last year we were unlucky not to win.

?It will be an exciting game and both sets of forwards will be trying to get on top of each other to make room for the half-backs.

?It?s a wide pitch and suits an expansive game. I?m sure if we get on top in the forwards we can exploit that.

?We?re not going to fool ourselves into thinking 70 points against a National League Two team stands us in good stead for Super League. We?ve got to make sure we?re on our game on Saturday.?

Stephenson, now one of the Broncos? longest-serving players having joined the club in 2002, has also been impressed with Rea?s half-back recruits.

He added: ?For me Luke Dorn has been the outstanding player we?ve signed. He came with not much of a reputation but he has shone in every game he has played and people still don?t recognise him.

?People know about Thomas from the Kiwi tour last year and together they seem to have worked well.?

Leuluai was rested for last week?s trip to Leeds? neighbours Hunslet but returns along with full-back Zeb Luisi and prop Steve Trindall.

Leeds are without loose forward Gareth Ellis for the next fortnight following minor knee surgery but second row Ali Lauitiiti is back after time off on compassionate leave.

Leeds v London, Headingley, Saturday April 9

Leeds 18-man: Mathers, Calderwood, Walker, Senior, Bai, McGuire, Burrow, Bailey, McDermott, Lauitiiti, Sinfield, Dunemann, Ward, Poching, McDonald, Jones-Buchanan, Botham, Scruton.

London 18-man: Trindall, Lucky Luisi, Haumono, Highton, Dorn, Greenwood, Tookey, O'Halloran, Bradley-Qalilawa, Hopkins, Sykes, Leuluai, McLinden, Wells, Mbu, Lolohea, Armour, Williams.

Referee: R Silverwood

Thanks to: http://www.superleague.co.uk for another excellent article.