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Widdup hoping for family backing against Leeds

Gareth Widdup is the England star who will be deep within enemy lines tomorrow night.

Gareth Widdop is hoping for some family backing

Melbourne star Widdop hopes he won't be taking too much ­hostile fire when he takes to the field in the World Club Challenge against Leeds Rhinos at Headingley.

Halifax-born Widdop has managed to persuade his own family to turn against English hopes for the night. Widdop is part of the Storm team who are hoping to wrestle "world domination" back off Leeds.

And if that means wrecking his England team-mates' glory chances, then so be it, says ­Widdop. Because when it comes to club rugby, Widdop is about as Aussie as you can get after ­seven years Down Under.

He said: "There's a few of my family from Halifax coming to watch me and some of them are Leeds supporters. "But I've said that just for that one night they can ­ support me instead, so ­ hopefully that's the case.

"The more support we can get, the better because I don't think there are going to be too many Melbourne Storm supporters there." Widdop, whose family ­emigrated when he was 16, has won eight England caps since being called up three years ago.

And that made him change his mind about a few of the Leeds lads he'll be battling with tomorrow. He added: "I used to be a ­massive Bradford Bulls fan ­before I left and I would come to Headingley for away games.

"I used to hate Leeds back then, but now I play with a few of them for England, I've realised they are really good fellas and players." Widdop was part of the 2010 Storm squad that played Leeds in the WCC at Elland Road but failed to make the team that went on to win 18-10.

With Leeds winning the last clash between these two ­champions in 2008, ­the game is seen as a decider. Reigning champions Leeds beat Manly at Headingley last year and this is the first time Melbourne will have played at the famous old ground.

Melbourne and Australia ­captain Cameron Smith admits he didn't even realise rugby league was played there until he looked round this week. He said: "I thought it was just the hallowed turf where Sir Donald Bradman scored his ­famous 334.

"But there are photos up of the 1982 Australia ­'Invincibles' side who played Britain here, so it's a very historic ground to play on."

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