Leeds v St Helens preview
Jamie Peacock admits he is starting to get emotional as he nears the end of his career.
The former England captain, who is hanging up his boots at the end of the season, will play his last home match when Leeds host St Helens in the First Utility Super League semi-finals on Friday night.
The veteran front-rower, who turns 38 in December, is desperately hoping he can bow out on a high with a record-extending 11th Grand Final appearance on Saturday week but, in the meantime, is delighted to get the chance to play one more game at Headingley. "It feels pretty emotional knowing that in just over 48 hours either my career is done or I will finish it at Old Trafford," said Peacock. "I'm glad to get one more game at Headingley. I've loved playing there.
"There's been a couple of times during my career when I've thought about moving elsewhere but, when I run out in front of 17,000, 18,000 people at Headingley, I've thought 'nah, this is the place for me'. "It has an atmosphere like no other."
The Rhinos gained home advantage in the semi-finals after pulling off a dramatic 20-16 win at Huddersfield in their final Super 8s game last Friday. That not only earned them the league leaders' shield, to go with the Challenge Cup they retained in August, but ended talk of a Wembley hangover.
Three successive defeats had threatened to scupper their bid for the treble and Peacock admits their preparation for those games had been below their usual standard. "We had a training session before the Huddersfield game that actually looked like a training session," he said. "Before that, it was looking like the Dog and Gun second team.
"The intensity in training has been spiked up again and I think that's because the lads have got a lot of focus and energy back. "We know we're one step from Old Trafford and, once you get to Old Trafford, anything can happen." Leeds will be favourites against Saints, having done the double in the regular season and beaten them in the Challenge Cup, but the champions were 32-18 winners at Headingley in the Super 8s just a month ago.
St Helens coach Keiron Cunningham, who is hoping to take his home-town team to Old Trafford in his first season in the hot seat, is not sure if that recent victory will be relevant. "It always helps going to Headingley and winning but we went there earlier in the year and got an absolute touch-up," he said. "It really is a tough place to go.
"Leeds have had a bit of a blip in recent weeks but at this moment in time they're the best team in the competition. It's a massive game and we understand what it takes to win massive games. "We looked a little lethargic last week against Warrington which I could understand. We'll be better this weekend, I have no doubt about that."
Saints expect to have in-form prop Alex Walmsley back from a two-match injury absence and Peacock also expects the Man of Steel candidate to be lining up for England in the forthcoming Test series against New Zealand. "Walmsley has been fantastic," Peacock said. "He started the season well and has improved as it's gone on. "He is incredibly difficult to tackle and he's relentless. He doesn't take a backward step and they're the qualities you need as a front rower.
"I'm looking forward to going up against him on Friday and I'm also looking forward to seeing him hopefully in an England shirt against the Kiwis. I think this could be an opportunity for him, especially with the loss of George Burgess."
Leeds Rhinos: Carl Ablett, Tom Briscoe, Rob Burrow, Adam Cuthbertson, Brett Delaney, Mitch Garbutt, Ryan Hall, Ash Handley, Zak Hardaker, Jimmy Keinhorst, Kylie Leuluai, Jordan Lilley, Danny McGuire, Joel Moon, Kevin Sinfield, Jamie Peacock, Brad Singleton, Josh Walters, Kallum Watkins.
St Helens: Kyle Amor, Matty Dawson, Mark Flanagan, Joe Greenwood, Josh Jones, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Tommy Makinson, Mose Masoe, Mark Percival, Adam Quinlan, Greg Richards, James Roby, Andre Savelio, Adam Swift, Jordan Turner, Atelea Vea, Alex Walmsley, Luke Walsh, Jon Wilkin.
