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By Ian Laybourn, Sporting Life - Leeds captain Jamie Peacock has called for an end to the bickering ahead of Sunday's Carnegie World Club Challenge. Comparisons between Super League and Australia's NRL will be made when Peacock and his Rhinos team-mates take on Manly Sea Eagles in the annual clash of the champions at Elland Road.
Manly chief executive Grant Mayor caused a furore when he said some Australians still rate Super League a "second-tier" competition while Peacock's team-mate Danny McGuire this week admitted the English game still lags behind the National Rugby League.
Peacock admits a second successive Rhinos victory would provide a fillip for Super League but argues that comparisons are futile.
"I don't think we need to show how good Super League is," he said. "To be honest, I'm p***ed off with all this.
"It's a bit like 'my dad's harder than your dad' from the playground. It's childish.
"We've got a great competition and the NRL is a great competition. It's a chance to show that when these two clubs play against each other.
"We should be promoting both of them, not criticising them."
Leeds have the chance to make it six wins in a row for Super League champions over their Australian counterparts, while Peacock is aiming to maintain his 100 per cent record in the competition, having won it twice with Bradford before helping the Rhinos to victory over Melbourne a year ago.
Peacock believes Sunday's task will be every bit as tough as their gruelling 11-4 triumph over Melbourne, who lost 40-0 to Manly in October's NRL Grand Final.
"Melbourne did a great job of preparing last year," said Peacock. "The thing that stands Manly and Melbourne out from the other teams in the NRL is the depth they go to to prepare.
"We've done back-to-back championships and to do the same with the World Club Challenge would show how strong the whole of our club is.
"I've three from three in this and I'm hoping to make it four from four."
While Manly coach Des Hasler showed his hand by naming his line-up three days before the game, Leeds boss Brian McClennan will keep the opposition guessing until an hour before kick-off.
The Rhinos are definitely without hooker Danny Buderus, who was undergoing knee surgery today, and full-back Brent Webb, who is at least another month away from recovering from shoulder surgery.
Scrum-half Rob Burrow, who has yet to play this season after picking up a back injury on the club's training camp in Florida, will be named in McClennan's 19-man squad on Friday night but he is not guaranteed to face the Sea Eagles and the Rhinos have other injury doubts.
"They're improving," said McClennan. "There's a couple we've got to test to make sure they'll be all right.
"We'll make sure everybody is fit and healthy. We've a bigger turnaround this week which is very valuable.
"You'll get a better picture of what we're going to be running out with an hour before the game."
Peacock is not worried about going into Sunday's game below strength, arguing that the team have coped well enough in their three Super League matches so far.
"It will enable the players who are probably not in the limelight all the time to shine," he said.
Sometimes adversity brings out the best in people and we believe it's going to do that on Sunday."
Manly captain and scrum-half Matt Orford says he will be planning to face Burrow, who was England's number seven in the World Cup.
"He's a great player and obviously an important part of their team," said Orford. "We'll be preparing as if he is playing. It will be a great challenge." |