Round 27 Previews-Sunday games

Widnes and Leigh announce squads

Widnes Vikings and Leigh Centurions have announced their respective 20-man squads for the engage Super League clash at The Halton Stadium on Sunday.

Widnes Vikings v Leigh Centurions, The Halton Stadium, Sunday September 11 2005

Widnes 20-man squad: Connolly, Hughes, Emelio, Myler, O'Connor, J. O'Neill, Finnigan, Whitaker, Frame, Mills, Smith, Ballard, Holmes, Nash, Viane, J. O'Neill, Watts, Kerr.

Leigh 20-man squad: Cooper, J. Duffy, Fleary, Jackson, Kent, Wilkes, Leafa, Maden, Marshall, Rowley, Stapleton, Sturm, Wilshere, Owen, J. Duffy, Maddocks, Stevens, Mears, Coleman, Forber.

Referee: J King

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Morley impressed by super standard

Sydney-based Great Britain international Adrian Morley will make his return to Super League on Sunday convinced the British game is in the best of health.

When the powerful forward makes his Bradford debut against Huddersfield at Odsal, it will be almost five years to the day since he made his last appearance for rivals Leeds.

He has kept in touch with the game during his spell with Sydney Roosters and believes the gap is closing between Super League and Australia?s National Rugby League.

?I still watch Super League and in the five years while I?ve been away it really has improved,? he said.

The in-form Bulls are going for a seventh-straight win and could meet the Rhinos in the engage Super League elimination final next month, which would mean a sentimental return to Headingley for Morley, who is on a short-term contract with Brian Noble?s team ahead of the Gillette Tri-Nations Series.

?I really enjoyed my time at Leeds but I?m here to do a job for Bradford and, if I did go back to Headingley to play Leeds, it will be very interesting,? he said.

?I know throughout the year Bradford have not been playing as well as they would have liked but they?ve really hit top form in the last few games. The Bulls have had that much success over the years that their fans really do expect it so hopefully we can kick on.?

While Bradford have the chance to consolidate third place, Huddersfield still have an outside chance of claiming the sixth play-off spot after rivals London Broncos and Wigan both suffered defeats on Friday night.

?We need to win to stay in third spot and it is Huddersfield?s last opportunity to get a top-six spot,? said Bulls coach Brian Noble, who will pit his wits against his Great Britain assistant Jon Sharp.

?They will be desperate for the win and will be all the more dangerous for it. They are a well-coached side with some outstanding individuals and we know we are in for a tough afternoon.

?From our point of view we need to continue in the same vein as we did last week against Hull and consolidate that third spot in the table.?

Bradford v Huddersfield, Odsal Stadium, Sunday Sept 11

Bradford 18-man squad: Vainikolo, Deacon, Morley, Fielden, B. Harris, I. Harris, Withers, Johnson, Lynch, L. Pryce, Peacock, Paul, Vagana, Langley, Hape, Meyers, Radford, Henderson.

Huddersfield 18-man squad: Reilly, O'Hare, Evans, De Vere, Thorman, March, Drew, Gannon, Nero, Gene, S. Jones, Smith, Crabtree, Grayshon, McDonald, Greenwood, St Hilaire, Jackson.

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Kear calls for dominant display

Hull FC are chasing a home tie in the engage Super League play-offs when they take on Wakefield in their penultimate match at Belle Vue.

They are looking for a fourth win over the Wildcats this year but defeats by Wigan and Bradford, either side of their Powergen Challenge Cup success, have undermined their bid for the double.

They conceded 10 tries to the Bulls in a crushing 49-6 defeat and coach John Kear admits: ?It?s now time to draw a line under the Bradford game.

?The manner in which we lost hurt everyone. However, one of our goals in Spain during pre-season was to secure a home tie in the play-offs, which would mean finishing in the top four. We know that for that to happen now we have to win our last two games.

?In our debrief for the week?s training myself and the coaches have agreed that we are now seeing the team we saw prior to Cardiff. They have come back down to earth now and realise that there?s a job to be done.

?What happened following the final was inevitable but our defeat at Bradford was our heaviest during my three years at the club and we don?t want it to happen again.?

Wakefield Trinity Wildcats v Hull FC, Atlantic Solutions Stadium, Sunday September 11 2005

Wakefield 18-man squad: Halpenny, Wainwright, Henderson, Domic, Snitch, Jeffries, Obst , Griffin, March, Korkidas, Solomona, J. Field, Spicer, Wrench, Feather, Elima, Buchanan, M. Field.

Hull 18-man squad: Faumuina, Blacklock, Raynor, Dowes, Swain, King, McMenemy, Kearney, Cooke, Tony, Chester, Thackray, Carvell, Brough, Dixon, McNicholas, Whiting, Lee.

Referee: P Bentham

As usual thanks to www.superleague.co.uk for the above previews.