Sinfield loss adds to Leeds' woes
Leeds must learn to play without the inspirational Kevin Sinfield, starting with the visit of Widnes, as the England captain faces up to the prospect of a six-week injury lay-off.
England have revealed that Sinfield will undergo surgery on Tuesday on the thumb he damaged in the first half of Friday's international origin match against the Exiles. The Rhinos have yet to confirm the news but concede it is a likely outcome.
The goalkicking stand-off was sorely missed as England failed to build on an impressive first-half display at Warrington that earned them a 24-0 lead, eventually stuttering to a 30-10 win over the Super League-based overseas team.
The good news for England is that Sinfield will be back well in time to lead them into the World Cup, arguably refreshed by his enforced lay-off, but Leeds face a crucial test of their title ambitions over the next six weeks.
They will go into Monday's game, a round four Super League fixture which was postponed due the champions' involvement in the World Club Challenge in February, without their long-serving captain for the first time for almost three years.
Sinfield's sequence of consecutive Super League appearances ends at 97 and leaves his Leeds and England team-mate Ryan Hall with the competition's current longest run at 70.
Leeds have won their last six meetings with Widnes, whose last victory was a 29-14 triumph at home in June, 2003, but Sinfield's injury takes their number of absentees to nine and they are poised to give a debut to England academy captain Jordan Baldwinson.
"Widnes will look at our injury list and they might fancy their chances," Zak Hardaker admitted.
Leeds' injury woes have been offset to some extent by the return of winger Ben Jones-Bishop for his first game of the season after recovery from a lung condition. Widnes have England forward Gareth Hock returning from suspension but coach Denis Betts believes his side are still facing a tough hurdle.
"Leeds are a great side and you've only got to look at the last few years and see what they've achieved and where they are, to realise that," Betts said. "They've got so much quality and we know that we're going to have to go there and be at our best and be competitive."
